Read the Passage: 1 Corinthians 6

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: 1 Corinthians 6

Litigation by Believers (6:1–8)

Paul’s abrupt transition from sexual immorality to financial matters indicates he was answering a list of questions posed by the church. In 1 Cor. 6:1–6 Paul focuses on the issue of believers suing one another in court. The main problem here is not necessarily Christians’ participation in secular courts; rather, as Paul will explain, it is believers’ lack of understanding of their identity in Christ. Paul addresses this lack of knowledge by pointing out that Christians will one day judge the world (cf. 1 Cor. 6:2) and angels (cf. 1 Cor. 6:3). The Bible does not give many details about this future judgment by believers (cf. Dan. 7:27; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10); however, it seems clear that this event will be in conjunction with Jesus, who has all power and authority. Furthermore, since God’s angels are holy, the angels in view here who are to be judged are fallen angels—that is, demons (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).

By appealing to the act of judgment in 1 Cor. 6:2–6, Paul was being ironic to highlight the Corinthians’ situation. In short, those in the Corinthian church who were suing believers in secular courts were placing themselves under the authority of unbelievers who were likely being influenced, in many ways, by demons (cf. Eph. 6:12). Yet, in contrast to this, in the future, it is Christians who will judge both unbelievers and the fallen angels. Therefore, with their litigious acts, the believers in Corinth were revealing their idolatry of both the material world and themselves, as well as communicating false information about the world to come. Rather than go to court before unbelievers, then, Paul writes that those in Corinth should resolve either: (1) to judge matters internally before the church (cf. 1 Cor. 6:1, 5), or (2) to “accept wrong . . . [and] let yourselves be cheated” (1 Cor. 6:7). In Paul’s thinking, gospel witness must be protected, even at great personal cost.

Justification by Christ (6:9–11)

The fact that Paul is trying to get the believers in Corinth to focus on their own identity in Christ is reinforced by his appeal to justification in 1 Cor. 6:9–11. In this passage, as he addresses those who were initiating lawsuits against fellow believers, Paul reminds the church that “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9). It seems here that Paul is inviting his readers to examine themselves to be sure that they are in Christ. Next, lest the offenders become discouraged, Paul lists ten heinous sins and informs the church “such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11). Indeed, it seems that Paul is reminding the church—even those who had brought reproach upon the gospel with their litigious actions—that God “has laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). Finally, Paul explains that in Christ, all believers have been washed, justified, and sanctified.

Possession by God (6:12–20)

In 1 Cor. 6:12–20 Paul stays on the topic of believers’ identity in Christ, but here he also returns to the subject of sexual immorality, which he had addressed in 1 Cor. 5:1–13. The tie between sex (cf. 1 Cor. 5) and money (cf. 1 Cor. 6) is that the Corinthians had done what Paul had warned the Galatian churches not to do—that is, they had used their “liberty as an opportunity for the flesh” (Gal. 5:13). In 1 Cor. 6:12–14 Paul explains that believers are not to be controlled by bodily appetites. Rather, since they have been redeemed (or bought) by Christ, believers now are owned by and should be controlled by God. This is part of what it means to be in Christ. In this passage Paul mentions two bodily appetites: food and sex. Yet, many other appetites could be added to this list (e.g., sleep, entertainment, etc.). However, here Paul’s point remains the same: Christ is to be the controlling factor in a believer’s life.

In 1 Cor. 6:15–20 Paul gives at least two reasons why sexual sin, especially extra-marital sex—including prostitution—is so harmful. First, in 1 Cor. 6:15–17 Paul appeals to the description of marriage given in Gen. 2:24. In this passage God alludes to the fact, which is developed in later biblical revelation (cf. Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Pet. 3:1–6), that the intimacy in marriage is a picture of the intimacy of salvation. Therefore, when a believer, who is part of Christ’s body (cf. Rom. 12:5), joins themselves to a prostitute, they are metaphorically joining Jesus to a harlot. This ought to be unthinkable for Christians. Second, in 1 Cor. 6:18–20 Paul highlights the fact that, in contrast to some other sins, sexual sin necessarily is against one’s own body. Paul may be referring, in part, to venereal disease in this passage, as such diseases were rampant in this context. Yet, in 1 Cor. 6:19–20, by way of supporting his exhortation, Paul cites his earlier teaching (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9, 16) that believers’ bodies are the temple of God.

Application Questions:

1. Do you believe the church in Corinth had fewer or greater moral problems than do most modern churches?
2. Apart from judgment, what other duties will Christians have in the future as they reign with Christ?
3. How could it be proper to allow oneself to be cheated by another believer? When is it ever permissible to appear before a secular court?
4. How can believers use Paul’s declaration in 1 Cor. 6:11 to reach the lost and to encourage the church?
5. What are the moral implications of one’s body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 3:9, 19; 6:19–20)?