Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Thursday April 23 2026
More Bible Studies Available @ www.marktabata.com. To Receive
Free Bible Studies And Updates Via Email, Contact Mark Tabata @ 606-216-1757 (SMS Only) or markatabata@gmail.com (Email). Follow me on Substack: substack.com/@marktabata. Also please visit my author page: amazon.com/author/marktabata
1 Corinthians 5:9-I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
Did the Apostle Paul write another Epistle to the Corinthians that was not preserved?
Many believe that Paul’s words here in 1 Corinthians 5:9 prove such a theory.
But is that Paul was is trying to communicate in this passage?
Or is there something possibly going on?
Let’s study.
The first thing to notice about this passage is that when Paul says “I wrote to you in my epistle,” it is entirely possible that he is not referring to a previous letter that he had written. Instead, he is referring to what he had written previously in this Epistle!
Gareth Reese explains:
Accordingly, we could translate this passage in this way:
1 Corinthians 5:9-I wrote to you (previously) in my (this) epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that some of the early Christians advocated it.
Theodoret of Cyril: Paul is not referring to another letter but to this one, for he has just said that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians 193. [PG 82:263.]
Second, acknowledging this as a possible interpretation of the passage, we should also note that earlier church fathers said that Paul had written another Epistle to the Corinthians which was not preserved. If this is the case, it should not surprise or trouble us: for the New Testament is clear that other inspired Writings had been written which had not been preserved for all time. As an example, Paul said:
Acts 20:35-I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “
Try as we might, we cannot find these words in any of the Gospels that we have in our New Testament. It is entirely possible that Paul is quoting from apostolic tradition in this passage (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:14). Or, perhaps he is referencing another Book that was not preserved. God never promised to preserve every inspired Writing in the canon of Scripture. Instead, He has assured us that what has been given is what is needed for our salvation.
2 Timothy 3:15-and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Again, what we have been given in Scripture is what is needed for all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
How thankful we should be to have the New Testament Scriptures.
Father, thank You for preserving in Your Word everything that we need to prepare us for Heaven and living a life pleasing to You in this world. Amen.