1 Corinthians 5:10
ESV
not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
NIV
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
NASB
I did not at all mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the greedy and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to leave the world.
CSB
I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.
NLT
But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.
KJV
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
NKJV
Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
What does 1 Corinthians 5:10 mean?
In the previous verse, Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians that he had told them once before not to associate with people who practice sexual immorality. Apparently, in some prior writing—now lost to history—he had referred to this problem once before.Now he clarifies that he does not mean they should not associate with any unbeliever or someone connected to any sin at all. He makes the point that if Christians were going to try not to associate with those in the world who are "sinful," they would need to entirely leave the world! Sexually immorality and other sinful practices were the norm in Greek and Roman culture, even more so than in modern culture. Paul's intent here is not that congregations become isolated, rigid, paranoid collectives. Rather, he means that sin ought to be taken seriously, and those who openly embrace it should not be part of the assembly of believers.
Paul's teaching makes clear that God does not intend for His people to avoid relationships with unbelievers, even those who are living in obvious immorality. Not only would this require us to retreat from any involvement in the secular world, it would also keep us from communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who need to hear, just as we once did (Matthew 28:19; Romans 10:14).
Instead, Paul will say in the following verses, Christians are responsible to isolate themselves from self-labelled Christians who openly live in sin. In other words, deliberate separation is meant to apply to those who claim—perhaps falsely—to be brothers and sisters in Christ, yet who insist on continuing to live in sin (1 Corinthians 5:11–13). This is for their benefit and ours (1 Corinthians 5:5).
First Corinthians 5:9–13 introduces Christian teachings on church discipline, conflict resolution, and the power of God to cleanse us from sin. After demanding the church in Corinth excommunicate someone for flagrant sin, Paul reminds them that those who claim to be Christians are to be held to a higher standard. Specifically, the church must not accept the fellowship of those who persist in blatant, stubborn sin. Non-believers, in contrast, aren't subject to that judgment. Paul insists that Christians must not even share a meal with someone who identifies as Christian but refuses to stop participating in sin.
Paul confronts the church in Corinth for failing to respond to a self-identified believer having a sexual affair with his father's wife. He insists they must remove the man from their community—to refuse his participation in the church—referred to here as delivering him to Satan. As the Jewish people would do during Passover, they must remove the leaven of this man and his sin from among them, to prevent it from spreading to the entire church. Christian congregations should not associate with those who claim to be believers, yet flaunt their sin.
