But them that are outside God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Take away. This passage is differently understood by commentators. By some it is understood thus: expel the evil one from among you, that is, the incestuous man. (Estius)
By others, it is understood to be spoken in a general sense, meaning, take away the evil of sin from among you. (Calmet)
Paul uses an expression taken from the Old Testament, partly because he is hinting that the Corinthians will be great gainers in being freed from a kind of plague and partly to show that this kind of thing is no novelty but goes right back to the beginning. Even Moses the lawgiver thought that people like this should be cut off, but he did it with greater severity than is shown here. Moses would have had the man stoned, but Paul thinks only of trying to lead him to repentance.
Since both in the destruction of the flesh and in the saving of the spirit there is, on His part, judicial process; and when he bade "the wicked person be put away from the midst of them".
and, "Thou shalt put away evil from among you.".
it will be in vain that we labour "to put away evil from the midst of us; "
