Expel the Immoral Brother

Paul says that when he wrote not to associate with sexually immoral people, he did not mean the immoral, greedy, swindling, or idolatrous people of the world, since that would require leaving the world entirely. Rather, he means someone who calls himself a brother while living as sexually immoral, greedy, idolatrous, abusive, drunken, or swindling, with whom the church is not even to share a meal.

I⁹ wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. ¹¹But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Paul asks what business he has judging outsiders, since God judges those outside, while the church is responsible to judge those within. He closes by repeating the command to expel the wicked man from among them.

¹²What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? ¹³God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”