1 Corinthians 5:13
“But those who are outside, God judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.””
What does 1 Corinthians 5:13 mean?
Paul is reminding the church that they have a responsibility to maintain their own community's integrity, but they're not responsible for judging the broader world. When he says "those who are outside, God judges," he's pointing out that non-believers aren't under the church's authority, so the community should focus on addressing serious wrongdoing within their own ranks rather than trying to police everyone around them. The instruction to "put away the wicked man" refers to the specific situation Paul has been addressing: a church member living in serious sin whom the community needs to hold accountable through separation, not in hatred but as a means of correction and protection. It's a boundary-setting message that distinguishes between the church's internal discipline and God's ultimate judgment of all people.