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Lawsuits Among Believers

Does any one of you, when he has a [a]case against another, dare to be tried before the unrighteous and (A)not before the [b]saints? Or (B)do you not know that (C)the [c]saints will judge (D)the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not worthy to [d]constitute the smallest 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, do you appoint those who are of no account in the church as judges? (F)I say this to your shame. Is it really this way: there is not one wise man among you who will be able to pass judgment between his (G)brothers? On the contrary, brother is tried with brother, and that before (H)unbelievers!

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

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit matter
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:1 Or holy ones
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:2 v 1, note 2
  4. 1 Corinthians 6:2 Or try the trivial cases?

Morality in Legal Matters

When one of you has a complaint against another, does he dare to take the matter before those who are unrighteous and not before the saints? You know that the saints will rule the world, don’t you? And if the world is going to be ruled by you, can’t you handle insignificant cases? You know that we will rule angels, not to mention things in this life, don’t you? So if you have cases dealing with this life, why do you appoint as judges people who have no standing in the church? I say this to make you feel ashamed. Has it come to this, that there is not one person among you who is wise enough to settle disagreements between brothers?[a] Instead, one brother goes to court against another brother, and before unbelieving judges,[b] at that! The very fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves is already a defeat for you. Why not rather just accept the wrong? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves practice doing wrong and cheating others, and brothers at that!

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 6:5 Lit. between his brother
  2. 1 Corinthians 6:6 The Gk. lacks judges