1 Corinthians6
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?
4If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?
5I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,
6but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
7Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
8Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
12All 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 any.
13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:
14and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up us through his power.
15Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.
16Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh.
17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;
20for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Corinthians 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: 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).
vv1-8
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.
vv9-11
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.
vv12-20
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.
Key Words
τὶς (tìs): some or any person or object
ὑμῶν (hymōn): of (from or concerning) you
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
πρᾶγμα (prâgma): a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material)
πρός (prós): a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
ἕτερος (héteros): (an-, the) other or different
τολμάω (tolmáō): probably itself from the base of G5056 (τέλος) through the idea of extreme conduct); to venture (objectively or in act; while G2292 (θαῤῥέω) is rather subjective or in feeling); by implication, to be courageous
κρίνω (krínō): by implication, to try, condemn, punish
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
ἄδικος (ádikos): unjust; by extension wicked; by implication, treacherous; specially, heathen
Cross References
1 Corinthians 6Directly quoted in v16 ("two, saith he, shall be one flesh") to argue against sexual immorality.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Christ's promise that his followers will sit on thrones judging, illustrating saints judging the world.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Old Testament prophecy where judgment is given to the saints of the Most High.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ's instructions on resolving disputes internally within the church community rather than public courts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel vice list showing those who do such things will not inherit God's kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal and thematic parallel repeating "all things are lawful... but all things edify not."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces the concept of the believer's body being the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel statement using the exact phrase "ye are bought with a price."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes Christ's promise of the disciples sitting on thrones judging the tribes of Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Sarcastic rebuke using shame regarding their lack of spiritual wisdom and knowledge.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts temporary physical foods with the spiritual, eternal nature of the kingdom of God.
Supported by John Calvin
Confirms believers are literal members of Christ's body, of His flesh and bones.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Further defense of the local church and individual bodies as temples of the living God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Mentions fallen angels reserved in chains under darkness, whom the saints will judge.
Supported by JFB
Parallel describing the believers' former sinful state and subsequent washing and renewal.
Supported by Matthew Henry