1 Corinthians 6:9

¶ 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 mankind,

{G2228} Know ye {G1492} not {G3756} that {G3754} the unrighteous {G94} shall {G2816} not {G3756} inherit {G2816} the kingdom {G932} of God {G2316}? Be {G4105} not {G3361} deceived {G4105}: neither {G3777} fornicators {G4205}, nor {G3777} idolaters {G1496}, nor {G3777} adulterers {G3432}, nor {G3777} effeminate {G3120}, nor {G3777} abusers of themselves with mankind {G733},

Don’t you know that unrighteous people will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t delude yourselves — people who engage in sex before marriage, who worship idols, who engage in sex after marriage with someone other than their spouse, who engage in active or passive homosexuality,

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,

Or 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,

Commentary

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:9, issues a stern warning to the Corinthian believers, directly addressing their conduct and challenging any complacency regarding sin within the church. This verse is part of a larger section where Paul confronts various issues, including internal disputes and sexual immorality, emphasizing the high moral standards expected of those who claim to belong to Christ.

Context

This verse comes immediately after Paul rebukes the Corinthians for taking one another to court before pagan judges, rather than resolving disputes internally among believers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). He then transitions to a broader warning about the nature of sin and its consequences, particularly highlighting the prevalence of various immoral behaviors in the notoriously licentious city of Corinth. Paul’s concern is not just about isolated acts but about a lifestyle that is fundamentally incompatible with the kingdom of God.

Key Themes

  • The Seriousness of Sin: Paul unequivocally states that certain lifestyles and practices are antithetical to God's reign and will prevent entry into His kingdom. This serves as a stark warning against spiritual complacency and self-deception.
  • Warning Against Deception: The phrase "Be not deceived" (μὴ πλανᾶσθε – mē planasthe) underscores that some in Corinth might have believed their Christian profession excused their immoral behavior or that grace covered all without requiring a change in conduct. Paul shatters this illusion.
  • Holiness as a Prerequisite for Inheritance: The passage implies that inheriting the kingdom of God is not merely a matter of profession but also of practice and character. It speaks to a transformed life consistent with God's righteousness.
  • Specific Sins Listed: The list provided is not exhaustive but illustrative of the kinds of unrighteousness that separate individuals from God's kingdom. These include sexual immorality (fornication, idolatry, adultery, effeminacy, homosexual acts) and other vices mentioned in the subsequent verse (1 Corinthians 6:10).

Linguistic Insights

  • "Unrighteous" (ἄδικοι – adikoi): This term refers to those who are unjust, ungodly, or lawless. It encapsulates a broader category of behavior that stands contrary to God's nature and commands.
  • "Fornicators" (πόρνοι – pornoi): A broad term for sexually immoral persons, encompassing all illicit sexual relations outside of marriage.
  • "Idolaters" (εἰδωλολάτραι – eidololatrēs): Those who worship idols or false gods. In Corinth, idolatry was rampant, often intertwined with temple prostitution and immoral practices.
  • "Adulterers" (μοιχόι – moichoi): Those who engage in marital infidelity.
  • "Effeminate" (μαλακοί – malakoi): Literally meaning "soft," this term in this context often refers to passive partners in homosexual acts, or more broadly, to those who are morally weak or degenerate, lacking self-control and adopting effeminate roles.
  • "Abusers of themselves with mankind" (ἀρσενοκοῖται – arsenokoitai): This compound word, unique to Paul's writings in the New Testament (also in 1 Timothy 1:10), literally means "male-bedders" and specifically refers to men who engage in homosexual acts, typically the active partner. Together with "effeminate," it unequivocally condemns homosexual behavior.
  • "Inherit the kingdom of God": This phrase signifies receiving the blessings and privileges of God's eternal reign, including salvation and eternal life. Paul's point is that a life characterized by these sins is incompatible with this inheritance.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers today that while salvation is by grace through faith, it also calls for a transformed life. It challenges the modern tendency to compartmentalize faith from ethics. True faith in Christ leads to repentance and a departure from unrighteous living.

  • Self-Examination: Believers are called to honestly examine their lives for any practices or attitudes that align with the list of vices.
  • Holiness Matters: The passage underscores that God's grace, while abundant, does not negate the call to holiness. Instead, it empowers believers to live righteously. As Paul explains in the very next verse, many in Corinth were indeed transformed from these very sins, "but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
  • Distinction from the World: Christians are to live distinctly from the prevailing culture's moral standards, recognizing that their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and their ultimate inheritance is the kingdom of God.
  • Grace for Change: While the warning is severe, the Gospel also offers hope and the power to change. God's grace is sufficient to deliver individuals from the power of these sins and enable them to live a life pleasing to Him.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to 1 Corinthians: Problems and Solutions in a Messy Church The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit What the Bible Says About Overcoming Temptation Navigating Singleness as a Christian Navigating Dating and Courtship Biblically

Cross-References

  • 1 Timothy 1:9

    Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

  • 1 Timothy 1:10

    For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

  • Galatians 5:21

    Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • Leviticus 20:13

    If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

  • Ephesians 5:4

    Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

  • Ephesians 5:5

    For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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