Greek Key Terms:
Context: 1 Corinthians 5 addresses a severe case of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church—a man living with his father's wife (likely stepmother). The church has not disciplined him but rather boasts (likely about their "tolerance" or "grace"). Paul commands them to remove the offender and explains the theological rationale using Passover/Unleavened Bread typology.
Connections:
Christological Connection: "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (v. 7). This is the interpretive key. Just as the Passover lamb's blood protected Israel from judgment and their departure from Egypt required purging leaven, so Christ's sacrifice redeems us from sin and requires purging sin from our lives and churches. The escalation: Israel purged leaven one week annually; the church lives in perpetual purity. Paul commands, "Let us therefore celebrate the festival" (present tense—continuous action). The feast pointed to a lifestyle, not merely a ritual. Christ's sacrifice is once-for-all (Hebrews 10:10), but our sanctification is continuous. We celebrate Passover-Unleavened Bread perpetually by living in purity.
Application: The command "cleanse out the old leaven" applies both individually and corporately. Individually: Are you tolerating sin in your life, thinking it's small or harmless? "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." What seems insignificant spreads corruption. Confess and forsake hidden sin. Live as what you are—unleavened in Christ. Corporately: Is your church exercising biblical discipline? Tolerating unrepentant sin in the church corrupts the whole body. Church discipline is not unloving; it's essential for maintaining purity. Love the sinner by calling them to repentance, and love the church by protecting its holiness.
Connection Method(s): Typology (Direct, Forward-Looking), Redemptive-Historical Progression — Paul explicitly applies Passover-Unleavened Bread typology to the church: "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival...with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Trajectory Table: 165 - Unleavened Bread (Purity and Sincerity)