Do Not Sue the Brethren

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the (A)saints? Do you not know that (B)the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall (C)judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have [a]judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 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? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. (D)Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. (E)Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [b]homosexuals, nor [c]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were (F)some of you. (G)But you were washed, but you were [d]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 (H)All things are lawful for me, but all things are not [e]helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of [f]any. 13 (I)Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for (J)sexual immorality but (K)for the Lord, (L)and the Lord for the body. 14 And (M)God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up (N)by His power.

15 Do you not know that (O)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 (P)“the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 (Q)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

18 (R)Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins (S)against his own body. 19 Or (T)do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, (U)and you are not your own? 20 For (V)you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body [g]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:4 courts
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:9 catamites, those submitting to homosexuals
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:9 male homosexuals
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:11 set apart
  5. 1 Corinthians 6:12 profitable
  6. 1 Corinthians 6:12 Or anything
  7. 1 Corinthians 6:20 NU omits the rest of v. 20.

Does anyone of you having a dispute with an Ach b’Moshiach dare to be judged before the resha’im (unrighteous, evildoers) and not before the Bet Din of the Kadoshim?

Or do you not have da’as that the Kadoshim will sit in mishpat over the Olam Hazeh? And if the Olam Hazeh is to be judged by you, are you incompetent dayanim to try the smallest cases?

Do you lack da’as that the malachim will come before our Bet Din? Not to mention the things of Olam Hazeh!

If, then, you have cases concerning matters of the Olam Hazeh, how could you appoint as your Bet Din dayanim men who have no standing in the kehillah?

I speak to your bushah (shame). Is there not among you even one chacham (wise man) who will be able to sit in mishpat between his Achim b’Moshiach?

But an Ach b’Moshiach takes another Ach b’Moshiach to court, and this before the courtroom of Apikorosim (Unbelievers)?

Already, therefore, it is a total defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be cheated?

But you yourselves do wrong and practice hona’ah (cheating), and this to your Achim b’Moshiach.

Or do you not have da’as that the resha’im (unrighteous ones) will not inherit the Malchut Hashem? Do not be deceived! Neither zannayim (fornicators) nor ovdei elilim (idolaters) nor mena’afim (adulterers) nor effeminate call boys nor homosexuals [IYOV 13:9; VAYIKRA 18:20; DEVARIM 22:22; VAYIKRA 18:22]

10 Nor ganavim (thieves) nor kamtzanim (misers) nor shikkorim (drunkards) nor megadefim (revilers) nor the ones doing hona’ah (swindling)—none of these will inherit the Malchut Hashem.

11 And some of you were these things. But you were washed and made tehorim (clean), you were made to be Am Kadosh, you were made to be yitzdak im Hashem in the name of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua Adoneinu and in the Ruach Hakodesh of Eloheinu.

12 "All things to me are proper (10:23)!" But not all things are beneficial. "All things to me are proper!" But I will not be mastered by anything.

13 "Okhel (food) for the stomach and the stomach for okhel," but Hashem will destroy both one and the other (1:8; 3:13; 5:5); but the body is not for zenut but for Hashem, and Hashem for the body.

14 And Hashem brought about the Techiyah from HaMesim for Moshiach Adoneinu and will also bring about the Techiyas HaMesim for us through His gevurah (power).

15 Do you not have da’as that your gufot (bodies) are evarim (members, limbs) of Moshiach? Should I then take the evarim (members) of Moshiach and make them evarim (members) of a zonah (prostitute)? Chas v’Shalom! (G-d forbid!)

16 Or do you not have da’as that of the one joining himself to a zonah, that V’HAYU L’VASAR ECHAD ("And they will be as one flesh" BERESHIS 2:24)?

17 But the one with deveykus ("cleaving, attachment" DEVARIM 11:22) to Hashem has achdus (union) in the Ruach Hakodesh with Elohim.

18 Flee zenut (MISHLE 6:23-7:27)! Every chet is outside the body, but the one guilty of zenut commits chet against the body itself.

19 Or have you no da’as that your body is a Heikhal Hashem of the Ruach Hakodesh in you, whom you have from Hashem, and you are not your own?

20 For [the Geulah redemption of] you [from the Golus of Chet] was purchased with a price; therefore, bring kavod to Hashem with your gufot. [TEHILLIM 74:2]