1 Corinthians 5:9-11

I wrote to you in a former epistle Doubtless both Paul and the other apostles wrote many things which are not extant now; not to company Μη συναναμιγνυσθαι, not to be intermixed, not to associate with fornicators, and such scandalous sinners; not to contract any intimacy or acquaintance with them, more than is absolutely necessary. Yet not altogether I did not mean thereby that ye should altogether refrain from conversing with heathen, who are guilty of that sin, or others equally heinous; or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters Sinners against themselves, their neighbour, and God. For then must ye needs go out of the world Then all civil commerce must cease, the citizens of Corinth being generally such. So that going out of the world, which some account a perfection, Paul accounts an utter absurdity. But now I have written unto you Now I explain my mind more fully, that I meant it of persons professing Christianity: not to keep company To abstain from ordinary, familiar, unnecessary converse with them. If any man that is called a brother A Christian, and a member of your church; be a fornicator, &c., with such a one, no not to eat Which is the lowest degree of familiarity. The sense of this is, that a conscientious Christian should choose, as far as he can, the company, intercourse, and familiarity of good men, and such as fear God; and avoid, as far as his necessary affairs will permit, the conversation and fellowship of such as Paul here describes. This is a thing (what decay soever of public discipline there may be) in each particular Christian's power.