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.

Dare any one of you, having a matter with the other, go to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

have ye not known that the saints shall judge the world? and if by you the world is judged, are ye unworthy of the smaller judgments?

have ye not known that we shall judge messengers? why not then the things of life?

of the things of life, indeed, then, if ye may have judgment, those despised in the assembly -- these cause ye to sit;

unto your shame I speak: so there is not among you one wise man, not even one, who shall be able to discern in the midst of his brethren!

but brother with brother doth go to be judged, and this before unbelievers!

Already, indeed, then, there is altogether a fault among you, that ye have judgments with one another; wherefore do ye not rather suffer injustice? wherefore be ye not rather defrauded?

but ye -- ye do injustice, and ye defraud, and these -- brethren!

have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.

11 And certain of you were these! but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were declared righteous, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

12 All things are lawful to me, but all things are not profitable; all things are lawful to me, but I -- I will not be under authority by any;

13 the meats [are] for the belly, and the belly for the meats. And God both this and these shall make useless; and the body [is] not for whoredom, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;

14 and God both the Lord did raise, and us will raise up through His power.

15 Have ye not known that your bodies are members of Christ? having taken, then, the members of the Christ, shall I make [them] members of an harlot? let it be not!

16 have ye not known that he who is joined to the harlot is one body? `for they shall be -- saith He -- the two for one flesh.'

17 And he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit;

18 flee the whoredom; every sin -- whatever a man may commit -- is without the body, and he who is committing whoredom, against his own body doth sin.

19 Have ye not known that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own,

20 for ye were bought with a price; glorify, then, God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.