Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

6:1 a grievance against another. Although some have argued that Paul is prohibiting Christians from ever going to court against another Christian, Paul seems in these verses only to be addressing disputes related to property or money (cf. "Why not rather be defrauded?" v. 7), rather than criminal cases, which fall under the jurisdiction of the state. (See Rom. 13:1-5 where Paul shows that God has established civil government for the protection and good of all people.) It is doubtful, therefore, that Paul's intention is that this specific example should be applied in every situation, since not every situation today matches the circumstances of this specific case in Corinth, where the two parties are in the same local church ("among you," 1 Cor. 6:5), and where the dispute is specifically related to property or money ("Why not be defrauded?" v. 7). Whatever the circumstances, it is clear from Scripture that disputes between believers need to be handled with the utmost care (vv. 1-8): in a wise and godly manner before the watching world; wherever possible under the disciplinary authority of the church; and with the counsel of spiritually mature Christians who have no stake in the matter and who can give objective, biblical advice. (See further Matt. 18:15-20 regarding the steps that Christians need to take when one believer sins against another believer, and the authoritative role of the church in such cases.) the unrighteous. Paul probably is referring to magistrates who are both unbelievers (1 Cor. 6:4, 6) and who are at times unjust in their judgments.

6:2-3 saints will judge the world . . . angels. See Dan. 7:22; Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; Rev. 3:21. The people of God will participate with Christ in the final day of judgment.

6:5 shame. Plagued by arrogance (3:21; 4:6, 8, 18-19), the Corinthians should have been ashamed of their behavior (15:34; see also 14:35; Ps. 35:26; Phil. 3:19), for they were not even wise enough to settle a dispute between those in their own congregation. Although they thought themselves to be wise (1 Cor. 3:18; 4:10; 2 Cor. 11:19), their actions belied this self-estimation, resulting in their shame (cf. 1 Cor. 1:27).

6:7-8 suffer wrong . . . wrong. These terms translate the Greek verb adikeō. Paul used the adjectival form of this verb, adikos, in v. 1 to describe the "unrighteous" magistrates that the Corinthians are using to adjudicate their cases. This implies that the Corinthians are acting like unbelievers rather than like the "saints" (the "sanctified" or "holy" people) that God has called them to be (1:2, 30; 3:17). See also notes on 3:1-3 and 5:1. defraud. This word (Gk. apostereō) would be particularly appropriate for unethical business practices among wealthy people. See James 5:4, where it is used this way. Although not many of the Corinthians were "powerful" or of "noble birth" (1 Cor. 1:26), some were wealthy enough to "humiliate those who have nothing" at the Lord's Supper (11:22).

6:9-10 Paul's use of the word unrighteous (Gk. adikos again; see note on vv. 7-8) implies that those whose behavior is indistinguishable from the unbelieving world may not be among the "saints" (v. 1) at all. See also 2 Cor. 13:5. men who practice homosexuality. The Greek words malakos and arsenokoitēs refer specifically to male homosexuals (see ESV footnote), but in Rom. 1:26-27 Paul also refers to female homosexuals, and to homosexual desires or "passions." Both passages (as well as Lev. 18:22; 20:13; and 1 Tim. 1:10) refer to homosexuality in general.

6:11 washed. This refers to the spiritual cleansing from the guilt and dominating power of sin that occurs at regeneration (see Titus 3:5) and that is symbolized in the "washing" of baptism (Acts 22:16). sanctified. This is a similar concept, in this instance meaning that an initial break with the love of sin, and with the power and practice of sin, occurs at regeneration (see Acts 20:32; Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17). However, in another sense "sanctification" is also an ongoing process in the Christian life (Rom. 6:19; Phil. 3:13-14; Heb. 12:1, 14; see also note on 1 Cor. 1:2). justified. The Greek term is dikaioō and is the positive counterpart to the terms "unrighteous," "suffer wrong," and "wrong" in 6:1, 7-8, and 9 (see notes on those verses). Here Paul uses dikaioō not in its ethical sense ("be seen to be righteous") but in its judicial sense ("declare righteous"). God has already declared the Corinthian Christians to be "righteous" (see Rom. 5:1; 8:1, 33). God was able to do this because the "righteousness" that belongs to Christ, due to his perfect life, has become "our . . . righteousness" (1 Cor. 1:30; see also 2 Cor. 5:21). Paul's point in 1 Cor. 6:1-11 is that the Corinthians need to live in a way that is consistent with this verdict and status.