1 Corinthians 5:1

“In general, it is reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not found even among the Gentiles, that one hath his father's wife.”

The first word, ὅλως, has been variously explained. It signifies totally, and hence in general or summarily, but never certainly, as some have sought to understand it here. If this adverb qualifies ἀκούεται, it is reported, we may explain, “it is reported everywhere. ” But Paul would have found a clearer term to express this idea. Or we might understand it, “People talk generally of fornication among you;” but the sequel, καὶ τοιαύτη, and such fornication,...does not at all suit this meaning. The adjunct ἐν ὑμῖν, among you, cannot, of course, depend on ἀκούεται, it is reported; it must necessarily be referred to an οὖσα, being, understood: “It is reported that there is fornication among you.” If it is so, the meaning of ὅλως is determined by the gradation following: καὶ τοιαύτη, and even such: “The vice of fornication exists in general among you, and it is even such a case as would scandalize the Gentiles themselves.” The word ὅλως is used, 1 Corinthians 6:7, exactly in the same way.

The verb ὀνομάζεται, is named, in T. R., is a gloss taken from Ephesians 5:3. The word is wanting in most of the Mjj. We have simply to understand ἐστί.

Instead of saying, his father's wife, Paul might have used the word μητρυιά, step-mother; but the former expression brought out more strongly the enormity of the act. This is also expressed forcibly by the position of the pronoun τινά between the two terms wife and father. Was the father still living? We can hardly think so; the act would be too odious. The marriage of a son with his step-mother was forbidden among the Jews under pain of death (Lev 18:8). The Roman law equally forbade it. It is therefore probable that this union had not been legally sanctioned. Of the impression produced by such acts, even among the heathen, when they did exceptionally take place, we may judge from the words of Cicero in his defence of Cluentius: “O incredible crime for a woman, and such as has never been heard of in this world in any other than her solitary case!”

It appears from the whole chapter that the man only was a Christian; for if the woman had not been still a heathen, would not Paul have judged her as severely as the man? And what has been the conduct of the Corinthians in view of such a scandal?