John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 5:9

"I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;" — 1 Corinthians 5:9 (ASV)

I wrote to you in an epistle. The epistle of which he speaks is not extant today. Nor is there any doubt that many others are lost. It is enough, however, that those have been preserved for us which the Lord foresaw would suffice.

But this passage, because of its obscurity, has been twisted into various interpretations, which I do not think it necessary for me to spend time refuting, but will simply present what appears to me to be its true meaning. He reminds the Corinthians of what he had already instructed them—that they should refrain from associating with the wicked. For the phrase rendered to keep company with means to be on terms of familiarity with anyone, and to be in habits of close intimacy with them. Now, his reminding them of this tends to expose their negligence, since they had been admonished and yet had remained inactive.

He adds an exception, so that they may better understand that this refers particularly to those who belong to the Church, as they did not need to be admonished to avoid the society of the world. In short, then, he prohibits the Corinthians from associating with those who, while professing to be believers, nevertheless live wickedly and to the dishonor of God.

“Let all who wish to be considered brothers either live in a holy and fitting manner, or be excommunicated from the fellowship of the godly; and let all the good refrain from association and familiarity with them. It would be superfluous to speak about the openly wicked, for you should shun them of your own accord, without any admonition from me.” This exception, however, increases the blameworthiness of their negligence, since they cherished in the bosom of the Church an openly wicked person; for it is more disgraceful to neglect those of your own household than to neglect strangers.