+Z’ev

Today’s assigned readings:
Genesis 42:18-28, 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:8, Mark 4:1-20

Paul says in verse 9 that he’s written the Corinthians before, in an earlier epistle. Which, of course, makes this to be the second - and the one we call “2nd Corinthians” to be the 3rd! I wonder how many other ones we’re missing?

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge? God will judge those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:11-13

In his commentary on this passage, John Chrysostom says,

“Put away from among yourselves the wicked person.” Paul used an expression found in the Old Testament, (Deut. xvii. 7.) partly hinting that they too will be very great gainers, in being freed as it were from some grievous plague; and partly to shew that this kind of thing is no innovation, but even from the beginning it seemed good to the Law Giver (Moses) that such as these should be cut off. But in that instance it was done with more severity, in this with more gentleness.

Chrysostom notes that “in that instance” (in the OT) in fact, it was stoning. Here it is “only” excommunication - driving “such a one” out from the community.

But, really Paul wasn’t being less severe at all.

All modern translations of this text into English agree: Paul was referring to “an evil person”. The Hebrew text that Paul citing only mentions “evil” - sweep the evil out from your midst.

The LXX, however, uses the Greek that Paul sites - and it adds a person to it. The Greek is more than a little awkward, using the word for “evil” the same way that Jesus uses it in the Lord’s Prayer where it means “the evil one”. In this passage from Paul, “the evil one” is made more explicit by telling the Corinthians not even to “eat with such a one.”

This passage annoys me.

Because Paul gets the Hebrew wrong.
Paul says *nothing* like what Jesus would say.
And conservative Christians - to this day - use this passage as a proof text when they want to avoid people who are different. Some (Catholics, Orthodox, Missouri Synod Lutherans) use this as support to avoid taking communion with others.

The Hebrew seems to imagine “the evil” as a a contagion within the community. (As later, the Rabbis will refer to “the evil inclination” and “the good inclination in people.) The LXX seems to personify “the evil” however, into “the evil one”. But even so it’s not clear if “the evil one” refers to someone committing a sin (that has just been stoned to death) or to the devil, as, again, an evil force or contagion in the community. Paul goes a step further and makes the implication clear: the evil is personified in the sinner.

So what I want to know is, how is this like Jesus - who even gave communion to Judas?

Again, Chrysostom says that Paul is being “more gentle” than Moses. But I’m not sure that kicking someone out of the community (where, to let Paul continue God will judge the “outsiders”) is very gentle at all.

How should we treat one among us who is “sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber”? Jesus was quite clear: let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone.

Right now the Anglican Communion is going through this over and over - with people on both sides of the Human Sexuality Debate trying to “not eat with” the folks on the other side.

And, having followed Paul to the letter through these first few verses, they are filing law suits in secular courts, going to the secular media, making a public outcry - denying Paul in the rest of today’s reading.

They will know we are Christians by our love.

Yup.

Much love,

Huw