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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:
Does 1 Corinthians 5:9 prove there was a “previous letter”, a letter written by Paul to Corinth before the one we call First Corinthians? 1 Corinthians 5:9 might refer to a previous letter; the historical aorist is sometimes so used. However, 5:9 might be a reference to the same letter in which it appears; the epistolary aorist is sometimes so used. What Paul is doing in 5:9 seems to be this: The KJV uses “an epistle” at 5:9, and is not as satisfactory a translation as “my epistle” of the ASV. This commentator can see no objection to the supposition that 5:9 is an epistolary aorist referring to earlier portions of this 1 Corinthian letter itself. Some argue that Paul has not mentioned fornicators prior to 5:9 in the 1 Corinthians epistle. But at 5:1 and 5:5, Paul writes, “Deliver them to Satan,” i.e., excommunicate them, disfellowship them. When Paul used “I wrote” in 5:9, he was clarifying what he had said in the previous verses and guarding against a possible misunderstanding of his instructions. ‘I meant keep away from fornicators in the church. I didn’t mean keep away from all such men, even those in the world – for to do that, you’d have to get entirely out of the world.’ If the verses in the beginning of chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians satisfy the meaning of “I wrote” in 5:9, why theorize that there were other letters, perhaps now lost? We conclude that 5:9 is not proof that there was a “previous letter,” written before our present 1 Corinthians. (Gareth L. Reese, New Testament Epistles: 1 Corinthians, A Critical And Exegetical Commentary, 506-514 (Kindle Edition): Moberly, Missouri: Scripture Exposition Books LLC)
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.