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!

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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!

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