Judging Those Who Are “Outside”

by Bryan Gibson

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? {13} But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

The word “judging” and other forms of the word can have a variety of meanings, depending on the context. So how is it used in the above passage? When Paul asks the question, “What have I do with judging those also who are outside?”, what kind of judging is he talking about?

A careful reading of the entire chapter reveals that Paul, by inspiration, is writing about church discipline (v. 4) of unruly members—that we should withdraw ourselves, or not keep company with any brother who continues in sin (v. 11). In fact, in the church at Corinth, there was a particular member who needed such action (vv. 1-8). Paul had written to them previously on this matter (v. 9), but evidently some had misunderstood. To clear things up, Paul tells them plainly that he did not mean that we should take this action toward the sinful people of this world. If we did this, and did so consistently, we would “need to go out of the world” (v. 10). So when Paul concludes the chapter with the comments about not judging those who are outside, is he not talking about this particular kind of judgment, that is, church discipline?

We do know this for sure. These two verses cannot contradict other passages. Consider Romans 1:18-32, where Paul at least in one sense of the word “judges” the Gentile world. He goes into great detail about their sins, and then says that those who practice such things are deserving of death. Consider also the sermons addressed to “outsiders” in the Book of Acts (chs. 2, 3, 7, 17, etc.). Several things stand out when you put all these examples together. In dealing with those outside, we should clearly point out where they are wrong, warn them of the dire consequences, and above all, show them exactly what they need to do to be saved from both the guilt and the consequences of their sins. The very fact that God will judge these people (1 Cor. 5:13) should motivate us to do something before they fall into His hands.

Yes, there are dangers involved in this work. We can get so caught up in pointing out the sins of others that we forget about our own. After all, we’re subject to the same standard of God’s word that they are. We must address the sins of those who are “outside,” but those who are lacking in either humility or sincerity should leave the work to others.