1 Corinthians 6:1-8
New American Standard Bible
Lawsuits Discouraged
6 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? 2 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? 3 (E)Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 4 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? 5 (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, 6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before (H)unbelievers?
7 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? 8 On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your (J)brothers and sisters!
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- 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit matter
- 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit the other
- 1 Corinthians 6:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- 1 Corinthians 6:2 See note 2 v 1
- 1 Corinthians 6:2 I.e., to try trivial cases
- 1 Corinthians 6:4 Or appoint them...church!
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
New English Translation
Lawsuits
6 When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters! 4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?[a] 5 I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians?[b] 6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian,[c] and do this before unbelievers? 7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 But you yourselves wrong and cheat, and you do this to your brothers and sisters![d]
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- 1 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “if you have ordinary lawsuits, appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church!” This alternative reading (cf. KJV, NIV) takes the Greek verb καθίζετε (kathizete) as an ironic imperative instead of a question. This verb comes, however, at the end of the sentence. It is not impossible that Paul meant for it to be understood this way, but its placement in the sentence does not make this probable.
- 1 Corinthians 6:5 tn Grk “to decide between his brother (and his opponent),” but see the note on the word “Christian” in 5:11.
- 1 Corinthians 6:6 tn Grk “does a brother sue a brother,” but see the note on the word “Christian” in 5:11.
- 1 Corinthians 6:8 tn Grk “brothers.” The Greek term “brother” literally refers to family relationships, but here it is used in a broader sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a). See also the note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
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