6:1–11
When serious disagreements occur between two Christians, they should resolve them with the help of other believers, not in a secular court.
Study notes
1 Corinthians 6
6:1–11 Section
The Corinthian believers disagreed with one another a lot. They took each other to court. They trusted judges who weren’t believers to make wise decisions for them. Paul pointed out many problems with this.
He had already begged them to stop arguing. Here he begged them to deal with their problems in a godly way. They should never cheat others or do wrong to anyone. They should do good to everyone even to those who do wrong to them. They should seek help from wise believers for problems that they have with one another.
Paul reminded the Corinthian believers that Jesus stopped the power of sin in their life. He made them right with God. This means that they will be part of the kingdom of God. When God’s kingdom comes fully Jesus will share his authority with them.
Jesus had told his disciples that they would judge the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Paul explained that believers would judge the entire world and even the angels. That is the future that believers look forward to. So they should practice making wise judgements now.
6:2–3
One day, believers will help judge the world. Even angels will assist alongside the Son of Man, who is the Judge of all people (see Daniel 7:13, 22, 27; Matthew 19:28; John 5:27; Acts 17:31; Revelation 3:21; 20:4). Because of this responsibility, Christians should resolve their disagreements over small matters.
6:4–6
I say this to your shame: It is a problem for Christians to settle disputes in non-religious courts, as if no one in the church can help resolve them.
6:7
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already: Suing a fellow believer shows self-interest instead of caring for others or honoring God.
Why not rather be wronged?: Christians should follow Christ's example of self-sacrifice (see Matthew 5:38–42).
6:8
Some of the Corinthian believers were not following Christ's example of sacrificial love. They were cheating even their fellow believers. Their actions and attitudes were wrong.
6:9
Do not be deceived: Sin is misleading, and believers should not take it lightly or think it is acceptable (Jeremiah 17:9).
Continuing to engage in sexual sin without repentance shows a heart not renewed by the Holy Spirit. Sexual sins include adultery (see Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27–28) and practicing homosexuality (compare Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Romans 1:26–27; 1 Timothy 1:10).
6:9–11
People who choose to sin will not be part of the kingdom of God. Christians should live in a way that shows their faith.
6:10
nor … will inherit the kingdom of God: Repeating this point (also 6:9) highlights the serious consequences of living in sin. For similar warnings, see Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 5:5; compare Colossians 3:5–6.
6:11
After the strong warning in Leviticus 6:9–10, Paul reassures his readers of their true conversion.
But you were washed: (see Acts 22:16) Cleanliness symbolizes the righteousness that comes from forgiveness (see Titus 3:5). God himself made them holy (see 1 Corinthians 1:2).
They became right with God through their connection with the Lord Jesus Christ and the transformative work of the Spirit of our God. God forgave them. He views them as righteous (see Romans 1:17; 3:21–26), and their lives have truly improved (see Titus 3:5–7).
6:12
Some Christians believed they could do anything, including being sexually immoral. Paul disagrees, saying not everything is beneficial. True Christians should live disciplined lives (see 10:23; Galatians 5:13).
6:12–20
Paul provides several reasons why Christians should avoid sexual immorality.
6:12–20 Section
Many Greek (Greece) thinkers believed that the spiritual things mattered more than the physical things. They taught that people’s spirits mattered more than their bodies. This led some people in Paul's time to think that their bodies weren’t very important. They thought that they could do anything they wanted to with their bodies.
A lot of people in the Corinthian church accepted this idea. They thought that they could have sex however they wanted to. They thought that it made no difference to God or to other believers. They thought that it made no difference to their spirits. This thinking was a result of not understanding Paul’s teaching about freedom.
Paul showed the Corinthians that people’s bodies and their spirits matter to God. God raised Jesus’ body from the dead. He will also raise up the bodies of believers who die. Those who follow Jesus are one with him in spirit because they believe in him. The Holy Spirit is always with each believer because he lives inside their body. And the body of each believer belongs to the body of Christ. This is the church.
What believers do with their bodies can either help the church or hurt it. Paul had written about an example of this in 1 Corinthians 5:1–5. So believers must use their bodies to bring honour to God.
6:13–14
"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food": Some Corinthian Christians used this idea to justify their sexual immorality. They claimed, "The body was made for sex, and sex for the body." This analogy is false because our bodies were made for the Lord, and sexual immorality does not honor him. Given his care for our bodies and the future resurrection, we must use our bodies for holy purposes in God's service.
6:15–17
Being a Christian means being spiritually connected to Christ in both life and death (see Romans 6:3–11). Because of this, believers' bodies are parts of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–28; Romans 12:4–5). This spiritual connection (see John 14:20; 17:21–23) means they should not misuse their bodies by joining with a prostitute.
6:18–20
For Christians, the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; compare 2 Corinthians 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred space and the divine presence.
You are not your own: Christians cannot claim their bodies as their own because they have been bought with a high price, the blood of Christ (compare 1 Corinthians 7:23; Revelation 5:9). Christ has claimed every part of their lives for God’s glory (see Romans 14:7–9; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15).
Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources