Overview
Chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians focused on two major issues: the resolution of disputes within the Corinthian church, and sexual immorality.
Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for taking their disputes to worldly courts, instead of resolving them within the church.
He also gave a powerful exhortation on sexual purity, emphasizing the importance of using the body for the Lord's purposes.
Bible Study/Commentary & Verses
Verses 1-8: Resolving Disputes Within The Church
Paul began by questioning the Corinthians’ practice of taking their disputes before worldly courts, rather than settling them within the church.
He reminded them that the saints would judge the world, and even judge angels, so they should be capable of settling trivial matters among themselves.
Paul expressed his disappointment that there was even a situation where one brother went to law against another, and that before unbelievers.
He saw it as a total defeat for them and said that they would be better off being wronged or defrauded, rather than wronging and defrauding their brothers.
Verses 9-11: Paul's Warning Against Immorality
Paul gave a stern warning saying that those who practice the following sins, would not inherit the kingdom of God.
The sins he listed are sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, drunkenness, reviling, and swindling.
He reminded the Corinthians that some of them were once like that, but they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of God.
Verses 12-20: Paul Said That They Have Been Bought With A Price, and They Are Not Their Own
Paul discussed Christian freedom, arguing that while all things were lawful, not all things were beneficial.
He emphasized that the body should not be dominated by anything.
Addressing the issue of sexual immorality again, he asserted that every sin a person committed was outside the body, except the sin of sexual immorality.
When a person commits sexual sins, they are sinning against their own body.
Paul then elevated the discussion to the Spiritual level.
He reminded the Corinthians that they are not their own, and they have been bought with a price.
Paul said that their bodies were members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit, and thus should be used for God's glory.
Paul concluded by urging the Corinthians to flee from sexual immorality, and to glorify God in their bodies.
Overall Summary
1 Corinthians Chapter 6 was an important part of Paul's letter addressing the conduct and morality of believers.
Paul addressed the Corinthians for their handling of disputes and their sexual immorality.
He reminded them of their new identity, and their transformation through Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
This chapter underscored the importance of treating the body, as a temple of the Holy Spirit, and using it for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 6
Do Not Sue Your Brothers in Christ
6 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Glorify God in Body and Spirit
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
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 do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Q&A
1 Corinthians 6:1
Q1: How does Paul address the matter of lawsuits among believers?
A1: When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?
1 Corinthians 6:2
Q2: What will the saints do in the future regarding judging the world?
A2: Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?
1 Corinthians 6:3
Q3: What does Paul say about judging angels?
A3: Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
1 Corinthians 6:4
Q4: How does Paul criticize taking cases to court before the unrighteous?
A4: So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?
1 Corinthians 6:5
Q5: What does Paul say about the Corinthians' lack of wise men to settle disputes?
A5: I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,
1 Corinthians 6:6
Q6: Why does Paul emphasize the Corinthians' taking each other to court before unbelievers as a failure?
A6: but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
1 Corinthians 6:7
Q7: What does Paul say about being defrauded and wronged?
A7: To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
1 Corinthians 6:8
Q8: How does Paul say the Corinthians should respond to being wronged or defrauded?
A8: But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
1 Corinthians 6:9
Q9: What does Paul say about those who will not inherit the kingdom of God?
A9: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1 Corinthians 6:10
Q10: What are some of the other behaviors Paul lists as not inheriting the kingdom of God?
A10: nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
Q11: What does Paul say about the Corinthians' past condition?
A11: And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:12
Q12: What does Paul say about the freedom of believers?
A12: "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything.
1 Corinthians 6:13
Q13: How does Paul contrast food and the body?
A13: "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Corinthians 6:14
Q14: What does Paul say about God's power in raising the Lord and believers?
A14: And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
1 Corinthians 6:15
Q15: What does Paul say about the bodies of believers being members of Christ?
A15: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:16
Q16: How does Paul describe the union between a believer and a prostitute?
A16: Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."
1 Corinthians 6:17
Q17: What does Paul say about the one who is joined to the Lord?
A17: But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
1 Corinthians 6:18
Q18: What does Paul advise regarding sexual immorality?
A18: Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 6:19
Q19: What does Paul say about the believer's body?
A19: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
1 Corinthians 6:20
Q20: Why does Paul say the believers were bought with a price?
A20: for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.