Lawsuits among Believers
1If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! 2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
4So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers? 6Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!
Members of Christ
9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- 1CO 6:9[DEMONIC]Idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God
- 1CO 6:9[ALLUDES TO]Refers to ← LEV 18:22; 20:13
- 1CO 6:9[NOTE]This list is for everyone, not one group. Next to sexual sin it names thieves, the greedy, drunkards, verbal abusers and swindlers. Many churches treat one sin on this list as the one that sends you to hell and shrug at the rest. That is a double standard. Then comes 6:11: and that is what some of you were. But you were washed. See the notes on Romans 1:26 to 27.
- 1CO 6:9[TEXT]The Greek here has two rare words. Malakoi means soft ones. Arsenokoitai joins the words for man and bed, and this is its first known use. Many think Paul built it from the Greek of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. Most read the two together as the passive and active partner in same sex acts. Others argue they meant something narrower, like men who sold sex or used boys.
12“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. 13“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.
- 1CO 6:12[NOTE]CHRISTIAN FREEDOM. Everything is permissible was a Corinthian slogan, and Paul quotes it back to them. He does not deny it. He adds three tests: Is it helpful? Will it master me? 6:12. Does it build others up? 10:23. And remember your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, 6:19. See the Christian freedom note at Romans 14:1.
15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
- 1CO 6:16[QUOTES]Direct ← GEN 2:24
The Temple of the Holy Spirit// Romans 12:1–8; 1 Corinthians 3:16–23
18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
- 1CO 6:18[FIELD NOTES]See the Acrocorinth and the Temple of Aphrodite Field Notes page.