Lawsuits Against Believers

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous (A)instead of the saints? Or do you not know that (B)the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, (C)why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? (D)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, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. (E)Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even (F)your own brothers![a]

Or do you not know that the unrighteous[b] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: (G)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[c] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And (H)such were some of you. But (I)you were washed, (J)you were sanctified, (K)you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Flee Sexual Immorality

12 (L)“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. 13 (M)“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one (N)and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but (O)for the Lord, and (P)the Lord for the body. 14 And (Q)God raised the Lord and (R)will also raise us up (S)by his power. 15 Do you not know that (T)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined[d] to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, (U)“The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord (V)becomes one spirit with him. 18 (W)Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin[e] a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person (X)sins against his own body. 19 Or (Y)do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? (Z)You are not your own, 20 (AA)for you were bought with a price. (AB)So glorify God in your body.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:8 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Or who holds fast (compare Genesis 2:24 and Deuteronomy 10:20); also verse 17
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Or Every sin

Lawsuits between Believers

Does anyone among you, if he[a] has a matter against someone else, dare to go to court before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if by you the world is judged, are you unworthy of the most insignificant courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels, not to mention ordinary matters? Therefore, if you have courts with regard to ordinary matters, do you seat[b] these despised people in the church? I say this to your shame. So is there not anyone wise among you who will be able to render a decision between his brothers? But brother goes to court with brother, and this before unbelievers! Therefore it is already completely a loss for you that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? But you wrong and defraud, and do this to brothers!

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Neither sexually immoral people, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor passive homosexual partners, nor dominant homosexual partners, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, not drunkards, not abusive persons, not swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And some of you were these things, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus[c] and by the Spirit of our God.

Avoid Sexual Immorality

12 All things are permitted for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be controlled by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food, but God will abolish both of them[d]. 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 raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Therefore, shall I take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, “The two will become one flesh.”[e] 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the one 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 with your body.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has”) which is understood as conditional
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:4 Or “seat” (imperative); the Greek verb can be either indicative mood or imperative mood by its form
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Some manuscripts have “of the Lord Jesus Christ”
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:13 Literally “both this and these”
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:16 A quotation from Gen 2:24

Lawsuits among Believers

If any of you has a dispute against another, how dare you take it to court(A) before the unrighteous,[a] and not before the saints? Or don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the trivial cases? Don’t you know that we will judge angels—how much more matters of this life? So if you have such matters, do you appoint as your judges those who have no standing(B) in the church? I say this to your shame!(C) Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who is able to arbitrate between fellow believers?(D) Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!(E)

As it is, to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you.(F) Why not rather be wronged?(G) Why not rather be cheated?(H) Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat—and you do this to brothers and sisters! Don’t you know that the unrighteous(I) will not inherit God’s kingdom?(J) Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters,(K) adulterers,(L) or males who have sex with males,[b](M) 10 no thieves,(N) greedy(O) people, drunkards, verbally abusive people,(P) or swindlers(Q) will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And some of you used to be like this.(R) But you were washed, you were sanctified,(S) you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Glorifying God in Body and Spirit

12 “Everything is permissible(T) for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 “Food(U) is for the stomach and the stomach for food,” and God will do away with both of them. However, the body is not for sexual immorality(V) but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.(W) 15 Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?(X) So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh.[c](Y) 17 But anyone joined(Z) to the Lord is one spirit(AA) with him.

18 Flee(AB) sexual immorality! Every other sin[d] a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral(AC) sins against his own body. 19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple(AD) of the Holy Spirit(AE) who is in you,(AF) whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought(AG) at a price. So glorify God with your body.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 6:1 Unbelievers; v. 6
  2. 6:9 Both passive and active participants in homosexual acts
  3. 6:16 Gn 2:24
  4. 6:18 Lit Every sin
  5. 6:20 Other mss add and in your spirit, which belong to God.

Lawsuits Discouraged

Does any one of you, when he has a [a]case against [b]his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and (A)not before the [c]saints? Or (B)do you not know that (C)the [d]saints will judge (D)the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest [e]law courts? (E)Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, [f]do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? (F)I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his (G)brothers and sisters, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before (H)unbelievers?

Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. (I)Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your (J)brothers and sisters!

Or (K)do you not know that the unrighteous will not (L)inherit the kingdom of God? (M)Do not be deceived; (N)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [g]homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will (O)inherit the kingdom of God. 11 (P)Such were some of you; but you were (Q)washed, but you were (R)sanctified, but you were (S)justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and [h]in the Spirit of our God.

The Body Is the Lord’s

12 (T)All things are permitted for me, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 (U)Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, however God will (V)do away with both [i]of them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but (W)for the Lord, and (X)the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only (Y)raised the Lord, but (Z)will also raise us up through His power. 15 (AA)Do you not know that (AB)your bodies are parts of Christ? Shall I then take away the parts of Christ and make them parts of a prostitute? [j](AC)Far from it! 16 Or (AD)do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “(AE)The two shall become one flesh.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is (AF)one spirit with Him. 18 (AG)Flee sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the [k]sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or (AH)do you not know that (AI)your body is a [l]temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from [m]God, and that (AJ)you are not your own? 20 For (AK)you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in (AL)your body.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit matter
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit the other
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:2 See note 2 v 1
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:2 I.e., to try trivial cases
  6. 1 Corinthians 6:4 Or appoint them...church!
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Two Gr words in the text, prob. submissive and dominant male homosexuals
  8. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Or by
  9. 1 Corinthians 6:13 Lit this and these
  10. 1 Corinthians 6:15 Lit May it never happen!
  11. 1 Corinthians 6:18 Or one who practices sexual immorality
  12. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or sanctuary
  13. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or God? And you...own

Dare any of you, having a matter against [a]his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy [b]to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life? If then ye have [c]to judge things pertaining to this life, [d]do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church? I say this to move you to shame. [e]What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Nay, already it is altogether [f]a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded? Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 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, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye [g]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.

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 any. 13 Meats 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: 14 and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up us through his power. 15 Know 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. 16 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, [h]The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 Or know ye not that your body is a [i]temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; 20 for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Greek the other. See Rom. 13:8.
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:2 Greek of the smallest tribunals.
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:4 Greek tribunals pertaining to.
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:4 Or, set them . . . church
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:5 Or, Is it so, that there cannot etc.
  6. 1 Corinthians 6:7 Or, a loss to you
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Greek washed yourselves.
  8. 1 Corinthians 6:16 Gen. 2:24.
  9. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or, sanctuary