Bits of Torah Truths – #Torah Concept in the NT: Put Away Wicked Men from Church – Episode 667
1 Corinthians 5:13
אֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר בַּחוּץ אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפְּטֵם. אַתֶּם בַּעֲרוּ אֶת הָרַע מִקִּרְבְּכֶם.
#torah #torahwisdom #torahtruth #torahforlife #torah4you #torahtruth
1 Corinthians 5:13
5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES. (NASB)
Paul’s command in 1 Corinthians 5:13 “Put away from among yourselves that wicked person” is directly rooted in Torah principles. The Torah repeatedly instructs us to purge evil from the covenant community to preserve holiness, justice, and covenant integrity.
– Torah Parallels to 1 Corinthians 5:13 –
- Deuteronomy 13:5 “That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death… so shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” False prophets leading to idolatry must be removed from the community.
- Deuteronomy 17:7 “So shalt thou put away the evil from among you.” Applied to idolaters; the community must purge those who corrupt covenant fidelity.
- Deuteronomy 19:19 “Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother… so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.” False witnesses are to be judged and removed to protect justice.
- Deuteronomy 21:21 “All the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.” Applied to a rebellious son; the principle is communal removal of persistent wickedness.
- Deuteronomy 22:21–22 “So shalt thou put away evil from among you.” Sexual immorality is treated as covenant-breaking, requiring removal of the offender.
- Numbers 15:30–31 “The soul that doeth ought presumptuously… that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” High-handed sin results in expulsion from the covenant community.
Note the Thematic Connections:
- Community Purity → Torah emphasizes purging evil to preserve Israel’s holiness; Paul applies this to the church.
- Witness & Justice → Torah requires careful proof before removal; Paul echoes this principle elsewhere (cf. 1 Tim. 5:19).
- Covenant Integrity → Torah removal protects the covenant; Paul’s removal protects the body of Christ.
- Holiness Standard → Both contexts stress that tolerating wickedness corrupts the whole community.
The Torah repeatedly commands Israel to “put away evil from among you” whether false prophets, idolaters, sexual offenders, or rebellious sons. Paul draws directly on this covenant principle, applying it to the church: wickedness must be confronted and removed to preserve holiness and integrity. This is how Paul taught Torah in the NT, the Torah has not passed away!
