Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Corinthians 5:10

"not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world:" — 1 Corinthians 5:10 (ASV)

Paul proceeds to correct their misunderstanding. By referring to other categories of sinners besides the sexually immoral, he shows that his earlier reference to the sexually immoral meant only that such people should not continue as a part of the church community. If Paul had meant that contact or even acquaintance with all sinners was to cease, then Christians could not live at all in human society.

By the words “not at all,” Paul limits the extent of his command. He is talking about the sexually immoral of the secular world system, who are not to be included as a part of the church community. The “greedy” (GK 4431) persons here are literally the ones “who must have more” (cf. Romans 1:29; Ephesians 4:19; Colossians 3:5). Greed is a serious sin, and Paul touches on aspects of it in 6:7–8. The word translated “swindler” (GK 774) really means one who steals by violence.