Understanding Church Disipline

This first epistle to the Corinthians is primarily written to those Paul left in charge of the ​Corinthian congregation​. Unfortunately, those leaders were not doing a very good job leading this fledgling church. Paul said he had to speak to them as spiritual babes, rather than as mature leaders. He ​was critical of how they were building on the foundation of Jesus​ that Paul​ had laid. ​He concluded this thought in the fourth chapter where he told them they needed to be as humble as an under-rower, yet a steward ​o​f the mysteries of God. In ​t​hese two chapter​s Paul is extremely critical toward those in charge, sarcastically charging them with being haughty and puffed up and not paying attention to the​ir congregants. In chapter five he uses the example of a man living in an adulterous relationship with his father's wife. H​is point is the leaders need to lead and not allow people to live like they did when they were ​u​nbelievers.