Bible In Poetry: 1 Corinthians 5 Poem by Dr John Celes

Expel the Immoral Brother!

1 That sexual immorality
Exists amongst you is real,
And of a kind that doesn’t occur,
Even among the pagans yet:
If man has his own father's wife,
2 Can you be proud at anytime?
Shouldn't you be rather filled with grief?
And cut your fellowship with him?
3 though physically not present,
I’m with you in spirit always.
I’ve passed judgment on this bad man
Just as if I were present then.
4 When you’re assembled in Lord’s name,
I am with you in spirit then,
The power of Jesus is present,
5 hand over this man to Satan then,
So that, the sinful nature dies,
Or may be destroyed finally,
And his spirit saved on Lord’s Day.
6 Your boasting is not good at all.
Don't you know that a little yeast
Works through the entire dough fast?
7 Get rid of old yeast so that you
Could be a new batch without yeast—
Which you really are in fact!
For Christ, our Passover Lamb of God,
Has already been sacrificed.
8 Therefore, let’s keep the Festival,
Not with old yeast of malice, wickedness,
But with bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I have written you in my letter,
Not to associate with people
Who are sexually immoral—
10 not meaning people of this world
Who’re immoral, or the greedy
And swindlers, or idolaters.
In that case you must leave this world.
11 But now I write to you that you,
Must not associate with one
Who calls himself a brother but
Is sexually immoral or
Greedy, idolater and slanderer,
A drunkard or a swindler too.
Don’t even eat with such a man.
12 It isn’t my duty to judge those
Who are outside the church right now?
You are not to judge those inside?
13 God judges those who are outside.
'Expel the wicked man ’midst you.'


(7-7-2007)