It is uncertain whether one should understand the three parts of this verse as rhetorical questions, exclamations, or statements. The following examples show the variety of possible translations of this verse. Translator’s New Testament says “And you remain arrogant. Why have you not rather mourned, so that he who did this thing would be expelled from your midst?” Revised English Bible has “And you are proud of yourselves! You ought to have gone into mourning; anyone who behaves like that should be turned out of your community.”

The And with which the Greek sentence begins marks a contrast between the immorality of verse 1 and the boasting of verse 2a. Moffatt translates it as “And yet,” while New English Bible has “And … still.” Good News Bible‘s use of the word “then” fulfills the same function.

The first you in the verse is emphatic.

Arrogant is literally “puffed up,” as we have already noted in 4.18. The Greek suggests that Paul’s readers have been in this proud state of mind for a long time.

Ought you not rather to mourn can be translated as “You should rather mourn” or “Really, you should mourn.” Such a translation indicates what the reader’s reaction should have been when they found out about this man’s immorality. According to Jewish tradition, to go into mourning was not only an expression of sadness, nor was it limited to the time immediately after a death, but mourning also expressed horror and condemnation. The immoral person must be punished.

The last part of the verse, from Let him who has done this …, may be understood (a) as the result of the mourning; (b) as the purpose of the mourning; (c) as explaining “the nature of the mourning” (Orr and Walther); or (d) as an imperative. Many translations choose (d) and express it either as a command or with the word “should” or some similar expression. One may say, for example, “expel the man … from your group” or “you should not associate anymore with the man who….”

From among you is literally “out of your midst.” Good News Bible‘s “be expelled from your fellowship” is good modern-day English. In languages that do not naturally use the passive, one may express this final sentence as “and you should expel (or, dismiss) from your group the man who has done this sin.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .