1 Corinthians 5:10

Not altogether (ou pantw). Not absolutely, not in all circumstances. Paul thus puts a limitation on his prohibition and confines it to members of the church. He has no jurisdiction over the outsiders (this world, tou kosmou toutou). The covetous (toi pleonektai). Old word for the over-reachers, those avaricious for more and more (pleon, ecw, to have more). In N.T. only here, 2 Thessalonians 6:10 ; Ephesians 5:5 . It always comes in bad company (the licentious and the idolaters) like the modern gangsters who form a combination of liquor, lewdness, lawlessness for money and power. Extortioners (arpaxin). An old adjective with only one gender, rapacious ( Matthew 7:15 ; Luke 18:11 ), and as a substantive robber or extortioner (here and 1 Corinthians 6:10 ). Bandits, hijackers, grafters they would be called today. Idolaters (eidwlolatrai). Late word for hirelings (latri) of the idols (eidwlon), so our very word idolater. See 1 Corinthians 6:9 ; 1 Corinthians 10:7 ; Ephesians 5:5 ; Revelation 21:8 ; Revelation 22:15 . Nageli regards this word as a Christian formation. For then must ye needs (epei wpeilete oun). This neat Greek idiom of epei with the imperfect indicative (wpeilete, from opeilw, to be under obligation) is really the conclusion of a second-class condition with the condition unexpressed (Robertson, Grammar, p. 965). Sometimes an is used also as in Hebrews 10:2 , but with verbs of obligation or necessity an is usually absent as here (cf. Hebrews 9:20 ). The unexpressed condition here would be, "if that were true" (including fornicators, the covetous, extortioners, idolaters of the outside world). Ara means in that case.