1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Church Discipline

⁹ I wrote to you in a letter not to associate^(A) with sexually immoral people.^{(B) 10} I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy^(C) and swindlers^(D) or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.^{(E) 11} But now I am writing^[a] you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer^[b](F) who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard^(G) or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. ¹² For what business is it of mine to judge^(H) outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? ¹³ But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves.^(I)[c]

Lawsuits among Believers

6 If any of you has a legal dispute against another, do you dare go to court^(J) before the unrighteous,^[d] and not before the saints? ² Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? ³ Don’t you know that we will judge angels—not to mention ordinary matters? ⁴ So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those^[e] who have no standing^(K) in the church to judge? ⁵ I say this to your shame!^(L) Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between his brothers?^{(M) 6} Instead, believer^[f] goes to court against believer, and that before unbelievers!^(N)

⁷ Therefore, to have legal disputes against one another is already a moral failure for you.^(O) Why not rather put up with injustice?^(P) Why not rather be cheated?^{(Q) 8} Instead, you act unjustly and cheat—and you do this to believers! ⁹ Don’t you know that the unrighteous^(R) will not inherit God’s kingdom?^(S) Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters,^(T) adulterers,^(U) or anyone practicing homosexuality,^{[g](V) 10} no thieves,^(W) greedy^(X) people, drunkards, verbally abusive people,^(Y) or swindlers^(Z) will inherit God’s kingdom. ¹¹ And some of you used to be like this.^(AA) But you were washed, you were sanctified,^(AB) you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.