1 Corinthians 5:1 KJV
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Word had gotten back to the Apostle of this gross immorality happening within the church at Corinth. And it had gotten back not by one source but by so many sources that he said it was a "common report." It was the exception for him to meet someone from Corinth who was not aware of this sin. This is different than gossip for, while we have no business bringing up negative things about people, neither ought we to ignore sin so open and so flagrant as to be common knowledge. We do not need to be the ones who make the sin of another common knowledge but neither ought we to be to ones to hide our face from the sin.
A few observations concerning this common report:
1. This was so open as could not be ignored
2. This was taken to the proper authority (Paul) and not just gossiped one person to another
It is one thing to report something in hope to help. It is another thing to talk about someone's sins just to stir the pot.
3. This was handled bluntly by Paul and then quickly by the church and finally with repentance by the offender
Our purpose should always be to see restoration and reconciliation and not condemnation.
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Word had gotten back to the Apostle of this gross immorality happening within the church at Corinth. And it had gotten back not by one source but by so many sources that he said it was a "common report." It was the exception for him to meet someone from Corinth who was not aware of this sin. This is different than gossip for, while we have no business bringing up negative things about people, neither ought we to ignore sin so open and so flagrant as to be common knowledge. We do not need to be the ones who make the sin of another common knowledge but neither ought we to be to ones to hide our face from the sin.
A few observations concerning this common report:
1. This was so open as could not be ignored
2. This was taken to the proper authority (Paul) and not just gossiped one person to another
It is one thing to report something in hope to help. It is another thing to talk about someone's sins just to stir the pot.
3. This was handled bluntly by Paul and then quickly by the church and finally with repentance by the offender
Our purpose should always be to see restoration and reconciliation and not condemnation.
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