John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 5:13

"But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves." — 1 Corinthians 5:13 (ASV)

Put away that wicked person. This is commonly explained as referring to the person who was guilty of an illicit connection with his mother-in-law. For as to those who understand the expression to mean—“Put away evil or wickedness”—they are refuted by the Greek words used by Paul, the article (τὸν) being in the masculine gender. But what if you were to view it as referring to the devil, who, undoubtedly in the person of a wicked and unprincipled man, is encouraged to establish his throne among us?

For ὁ πονηρος (the wicked one), taken simply and without any addition, denotes the prince of all crimes, rather than some wicked man. If this meaning is accepted, Paul shows how important it is not to tolerate wicked persons, as by this means Satan is expelled from his kingdom which he maintains among us when indulgence is given to the wicked. If anyone, however, prefers to understand it as referring to a man, I do not oppose it. Chrysostom compares the rigor of the law with the mildness of the gospel, since Paul was satisfied with excommunication in case of an offense for which the law required the punishment of death, but there is no just ground for this. For Paul is not here addressing judges who are armed with the sword, but an unarmed multitude that was permitted merely to use brotherly correction.