1 Corinthians Chapter 6
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbour, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2 Don't you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Don't you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?
5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn't there even one wise man amongst you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.
9 Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's Kingdom? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God's Kingdom.
11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are expedient. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
13 "Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods," but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.
15 Don't you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
16 Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two", he says, "will become one flesh."
17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Footnotes
- Verse 16
- Genesis 2:24
Version: World English Bible
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1 Corinthians Chapter 6 Guide
The apostle now passed to another dereliction. Disputes in the church were being submitted to heathen tribunals. What these matters were we are not told. The teaching of the apostle is clear, and has application for all time. Disputes among saints should be settled between saints, and wholly within the confines of the church. The argument as to the fitness of the saints for the work is that as they will finally have to judge angels, surely they ought to be able to judge things pertaining to this life. The apostle declared that it is better to bear wrong than to appeal for right to a tribunal of unrighteous men. His argument as to the unfitness of unbelievers is that "the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."
Under certain circumstances lawful things may not be right for the Christian. First, lawful things may not be expedient, and, second, lawful things must not gain mastery. In the compass of the first limitation, namely, expediency, the whole outlook of the Christian is undoubtedly included, not merely personal right, but the culture of the life; and, moreover, relative responsibility concerning others. Things which are lawful in themselves if they do not directly tend to profit both the individual and those who may be influenced by the individual are inexpedient.
The second limitation is that things which are perfectly lawful must not be permitted to obtain mastery over life. With a passing reference to the question of meats, the apostle deals with the sin of fornication. How high and stately is the ground of his argument, that the body is now a member of Christ and is for the Lord. The person joined to the Lord "is one spirit," and therefore, all the functions and powers of the life must be dominated by that spirit.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Corinthians Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Cautions against going to law in heathen courts. -- (1-8)
- Sins which, if lived and died in, shut out from the kingdom of God. -- (9-11)
- Our bodies, which are the members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Ghost, must not be defiled. -- (12-20)
Verses 1-8
Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes. In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them. They are trifles, and may easily be settled, if you first conquer your own spirits. Bear and forbear, and the men of least skill among you may end your quarrels. It is a shame that little quarrels should grow to such a head among Christians, that they cannot be determined by the brethren. The peace of a man's own mind, and the calm of his neighbourhood, are worth more than victory. Lawsuits could not take place among brethren, unless there were faults among them.
Verses 9-11
The Corinthians are warned against many great evils, of which they had formerly been guilty. There is much force in these inquiries, when we consider that they were addressed to a people puffed up with a fancy of their being above others in wisdom and knowledge. All unrighteousness is sin; all reigning sin, nay, every actual sin, committed with design, and not repented of, shuts out of the kingdom of heaven. Be not deceived. Men are very much inclined to flatter themselves that they may live in sin, yet die in Christ, and go to heaven. But we cannot hope to sow to the flesh, and reap everlasting life. They are reminded what a change the gospel and grace of God had made in them. The blood of Christ, and the washing of regeneration, can take away all guilt. Our justification is owing to the suffering and merit of Christ; our sanctification to the working of the Holy Spirit; but both go together. All who are made righteous in the sight of God, are made holy by the grace of God.
Verses 12-20
Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, All things are lawful for me. This dangerous conceit St. Paul opposes. There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely a Christian would never put himself into the power of any bodily appetite. The body is for the Lord; is to be an instrument of righteousness to holiness, therefore is never to be made an instrument of sin. It is an honour to the body, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; and it will be an honour to our bodies, that they will be raised. The hope of a resurrection to glory, should keep Christians from dishonouring their bodies by fleshly lusts. And if the soul be united to Christ by faith, the whole man is become a member of his spiritual body. Other vices may be conquered in fight; that here cautioned against, only by flight. And vast multitudes are cut off by this vice in its various forms and consequences. Its effects fall not only directly upon the body, but often upon the mind. Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.