Why Didn't He Just Go To Cenchrea?

Why Didn’t He Just Go to Cenchreae?

The Church in Corinth was not isolated. It had a neighboring congregation only eight to nine miles away. That congregation was at Cenchreae as referenced in Romans 16:1.

This detail matters greatly when we consider discipline, repentance and fellowship in the first century.

In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul commands the congregation at Corinth to remove a man who was living in open unrepentant sexual immorality. The sin was so serious that even the pagan world condemned it. Paul’s instruction was clear. The man was to be put out of the congregation.

Later in 2 Corinthians Paul addresses the same individual after repentance and urges the congregation to forgive and restore him. The process is intentional local and communal.

This raises an important question. Why didn’t the man simply go down the road to Cenchreae when he was removed from Corinth?

The answer is simple. That would not have worked.

Cenchreae was a distinct local congregation but it was not disconnected competitive or ignorant of what was happening in Corinth. These congregations existed in fellowship. They shared doctrine discipline and accountability.

Had the man from 1 Corinthians 5 gone to Cenchreae the response would not have been welcoming without question. They would not have said that the issue was between him and Corinth. They would not have ignored the situation.

They would have asked questions.

They would have contacted Corinth.

They would have learned what was going on.

And when they learned the truth they would have told him plainly that he was not right with God and that he needed to repent and return to his congregation.

There is no evidence anywhere in the New Testament that a person under discipline could simply relocate to another congregation and be accepted while remaining in sin. If that were possible then discipline would have had no meaning at all.

Discipline Only Works When Fellowship Is Real.

Paul’s command in 1 Corinthians 5 was not symbolic, emotional or optional. It was real removal from fellowship. That removal only had force because other congregations honored it.

If Cenchreae had accepted the man while Corinth rejected him then discipline would have been meaningless. Repentance would have been unnecessary. Paul’s instruction would have been easily avoided.

Yet Paul never even addresses this possibility.

That silence tells us something important. It was not happening.

First century congregations did not operate like modern religious institutions.

Today people move from congregation to congregation for almost any reason they choose.

Some leave because they become disgruntled with other members.

Some leave because they do not like the leadership.

Some leave because correction made them uncomfortable.

Some leave because they were disagreeable and could not come to harmony with their brothers and sisters.

Some leave simply because they did not get their way.

Whatever the reason it was not good.

Instead of humbling themselves seeking peace and working toward reconciliation they leave and go elsewhere. Rather than repairing fellowship they abandon it.

And what happens when they arrive at the next congregation?

Nothing is asked.

Nothing is verified.

Nothing is investigated.

These congregations do not care why the person left. They do not care whether there was conflict. They do not care whether there was sin. They do not care whether discipline was involved.

They accept them immediately with open arms.

This is not love. This is negligence.

When congregations operate this way several things happen.

Discipline becomes impossible.

Reconciliation becomes unnecessary.

Submission becomes optional.

Truth becomes secondary to attendance.

The person learns that they never have to resolve conflict. They never have to repent. They never have to change. They only have to move.

Over time they repeat the same pattern again and again. Each congregation becomes just another stop along the way.

A congregation that refuses to recognize discipline elsewhere and accepts the unrepentant without investigation is not functioning according to the New Testament pattern.

A congregation that prioritizes attendance over truth and feelings over holiness has already abandoned biblical order.

True fellowship requires shared doctrine shared accountability shared concern for holiness and shared respect for discipline.

The congregations of Corinth and Cenchreae were separate but they were not divided.

Many modern congregations are united in name but divided in practice. This allows sin to be hidden, excused and transported instead of confronted.

Conclusion

The man in 1 Corinthians 5 did not go to Cenchreae because there was nowhere to run.

Sin could not outrun truth.

Discipline could not be bypassed.

Repentance was the only door back.

That is why he was restored.

That is why discipline worked.

That is why fellowship meant something.

What we see today with church hopping unaccountable transfers and silent acceptance is not growth. It is decay.

And so it goes with false congregations.