1 Corinthians 5-8

Paul then addresses outright sin within the church, where a man was living with his step-mother as if they were married, and the church was proud of their tolerance of this couple.  Paul told the church leaders to bring discipline to them, and to put them out of the church, so that their sin did not corrupt the whole church.  The purpose of this excommunication was to bring them to repentance, and eventual restoration to God and the church, which we discover was successful in Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians.

He then chastises them for the situation where fellow believers in the church were suing each other in civil court, bring the Name of Jesus to shame among unbelievers.  He tells them that it would be far better that they accept the loss, and be willing to be cheated, rather than taking such issues before unbelieving pagans.  Such things should be judged and resolved within the family of believers, and not in the courts of pagans.

Paul then gives advice on marriage, indicating that it is best for people to stay in the condition they are in, and not seek something different.  Marriage is better for most people, who are not given the gift of celibacy, as Paul was.

He then gives advice about eating food that has been previously offered to idols.  There is nothing inherently bad or evil with eating such things, however believers should not do so if they end up causing a weaker Christian to stumble by their example.  This is the same with other things, like drinking alcohol in moderation - some Christians are free to do this with a clean conscience, but they should not do so if it causes another person to stumble.