1 Corinthians6

Paul rebukes the Corinthian believers for taking their disputes to secular courts, reminding them that saints will judge the world and should be able to resolve their own matters. He warns that the unrighteous, including fornicators and idolaters, will not inherit the kingdom of God, but reminds them of their cleansing in Christ. The apostle then emphasizes that believers' bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost, urging them to flee fornication and glorify God with their bodies, for they are bought with a price.

Believers Should Not Sue One Another

1
Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? ​
2
Don’t you know that the holy ones 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 among 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.

The Unrighteous Will Not Inherit the Kingdom

9
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? 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 the Kingdom of God. ​
11
Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Yeshua, and in the Spirit of our God. ​

Sexual Immorality Defiles the Body

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 Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah, 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 which is in you, which 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. ​

Study Notes for 1 Corinthians 6

Verse 1

Paul addresses the scandal of Christians using pagan Roman courts ('the unjust') to settle financial and personal disputes, rather than seeking resolution within the community of believers ('the saints').

Verse 2

The idea that believers will 'judge the world' (perhaps participating in the final judgment alongside Christ) establishes the spiritual competence and authority of the church to handle internal conflicts.

Verse 3

Judging angels is an even higher spiritual task, further emphasizing the shamefulness (v. 5) of the Corinthians’ inability to resolve simple earthly matters.

Verse 4

This verse is likely sarcastic. Paul is highlighting the absurdity that they are taking their disputes to those 'least esteemed' (unbelieving judges) rather than appointing even the least experienced believer to mediate.

Verse 7

Paul introduces the higher ethical standard of self-sacrifice. It is a fundamental 'fault' (moral failure) to sue a fellow believer; it is better to suffer financial loss or injustice than to damage the reputation of the church.

Verse 9

Paul transitions from relational ethics (lawsuits) to personal ethics (sexual sin) by providing a vice list, characteristic of Hellenistic ethical teaching, defining those who stand outside the realm of God’s redemptive grace.

Verse 10

The list includes various forms of sin—sexual, idolatrous, and economic—demonstrating that persistent patterns of unrighteousness in any area disqualify one from inheriting God’s kingdom.

Verse 11

This powerful statement contrasts the Corinthians’ sinful past ('such were some of you') with their present status achieved through Christ: they are 'washed' (cleansed), 'sanctified' (set apart), and 'justified' (declared righteous).

Verse 12

Paul addresses a Corinthian slogan used to justify license: 'All things are lawful unto me.' He accepts the premise of freedom but limits it with two criteria: spiritual profitability ('expedient') and avoiding enslavement ('brought under the power of any').

Verse 13

The Corinthians tried to equate sex with food, arguing both are temporary and morally neutral. Paul rejects this, asserting that the body is not temporary but destined for the Lord and resurrection, giving it profound moral significance.

Verse 14

The bodily resurrection of Christ serves as the guarantee and pattern for the future resurrection of believers, reinforcing the importance of bodily sanctity in the present life.

Verse 15

Because believers’ bodies are intrinsically linked to Christ ('members of Christ'), sexual union with a prostitute is a profound spiritual desecration, treating Christ’s body parts as common or unholy.

Verse 16

Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 ('two shall be one flesh') to show that sexual union is never merely physical; it creates a deep, binding, and relational unity, making fornication a serious violation of self and God.

Verse 17

In contrast to the physical union with a prostitute, the believer is joined to the Lord in a spiritual union, underscoring the incompatibility of engaging in both relationships.

Verse 18

Paul uniquely isolates sexual sin ('flee fornication'). While other sins are often external actions (e.g., theft, slander), fornication is described as a sin committed 'against his own body,' violating the sacred trust of the Spirit’s indwelling (v. 19).

Verse 19

This verse provides the ultimate theological basis for purity: the body is not personal property but the sacred dwelling place ('temple') of the Holy Spirit, placed there by God.

Verse 20

The phrase 'bought with a price' refers to the redemption secured by Christ’s death. Since believers are owned by God, their bodies and spirits must be used to glorify Him, fulfilling the purpose of their salvation.

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