1 Corinthians 5:11

‘But now I write to you not to keep company if any man who is named a brother is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one not to eat.'

However, when those who claim to be Christians behave in the ways described they are to be ostracised by fellow-Christians because they are bringing the name of Christ into disrepute. They are not to be openly acknowledged as brothers in front of the outside world. Nevertheless they are not to be counted as an enemy but admonished as a brother in private, because the purpose of the ostracism is to restore them to repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Christians regularly met, not only for worship, but also for fellowship meals. So those described must be excluded from such meals and thus from the Lord's Table. Note the sixfold description below and their connection with 1 Corinthians 6:9 which says that such people will not inherit the Kingly Rule of God. This is why it is so important. Not to exclude them would give a false impression that they were safely under the Kingly Rule of God;

A fornicator. One who indulges in sexual immorality either by adultery or other illicit sex. All sex not based on a permanent relationship is included, whether heterosexuality or homosexuality.

· Covetous. Being greedy for gain. Having a fixed desire for something that someone else has (see 1 Timothy 6:10 with reference to money) in contrast with being satisfied with such as one has (Hebrews 13:5). Paul elsewhere calls such behaviour idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5) because it means the person is putting that thing before God. It is not even to be named among them (Ephesians 5:3).

· An idolater. One who by any behaviour compromises with pagan religion. Many activities in Corinth were directly related to idols, and to partake in them would be seen as paying homage to those idols (see 1 Corinthians 10:27). Even eating something openly declared to have been previously offered to an idol is included, for that would suggest to outsiders that the Christian was seeking to participate in benefits from that idol.

· A reviler. An abusive person. Someone who runs down or wrongly criticises others, or who causes dissension by what he says of others.

· A drunkard. One who overindulges in alcohol (Luke 21:34) and may thus be a nuisance, an abuser, dangerous to others or may spoil fellowship by raucous behaviour (1 Corinthians 11:21). Jesus often used the idea to depict the bad servant who was unready for his lord's coming and failed to fulfil his responsibilities (Matthew 24:49; Luke 12:45). Drunkenness is a sign of overindulgence and unworthiness.

· An extortioner. A thief, a swindler, a cheat, one who obtains money by false pretences or for unsatisfactory work.

But these are, of course, major examples. The treatment would apply to any open sin which is against the commandments of God.