6:1 a matter Refers to a dispute that leads to a trial in court. The context is more comparable to civil litigation rather than a criminal case. Since elsewhere Paul certifies that the powers of government have authority to punish criminal behavior (Rom 13:1–7), these disputes likely refer to lawsuits brought against another person that deal with financial loss (see 1 Cor 6:7).

the unrighteous In this context, the word used here is closely related to “unbeliever” in v. 6. It is also an antonym for “the saints.”

saints See note on Rom 1:7.

6:2 saints will judge the world Refers to a future judgment, probably on the Day of the Lord (1 Cor 1:8; 5:5) when Jesus Christ returns to judge the world.

6:3 judge angels Paul reinforces the idea that the Corinthian believers should not seek legal resolution from authorities outside the church community (1 Cor 6:2).

6:4 despised people in the church Probably refers to the unrighteous judges (see note on 1 Cor 6:1). These judges held a high social status, but Paul suggests that their status means nothing in the church community (ekklēsia in Greek). Alternatively, Paul could be referring ironically to believers who had low status within the Christian community.

The Church Devotional

Ekklēsia Word Study

6:5 shame Refers to a sense of humiliation. It may also involve a loss of public honor within a community.

render a decision Although the Corinthians claimed to be wise (3:18; 4:10), no one among them was wise enough to resolve disputes between believers. Paul uses sarcasm to expose the absurdity of this situation. These disputes may have involved adultery or incest (5:1–13; 6:12–20).

6:7 you have lawsuits with one another These believers have presented fellow Christians to the authorities, hurting the social standing of the church in Corinth. Paul insists that they must handle such matters within the church community, not the public courts.

6:8 wrong and defraud Paul addresses the defendants in the dispute, urging them not to defraud other believers and provoke a legal dispute. Believers should be willing to suffer financial loss rather than take fellow Christians to court unless the behavior involves criminal activity (v. 1).

6:9 will not inherit In v. 11, Paul writes about the transformation that should occur when someone chooses to follow Christ; people should not continue in their former sinful ways of life. Paul further clarifies why believers should attempt to settle disputes among themselves: Those outside the faith community will not be part of God’s kingdom. The description of unbelievers in vv. 9–10 reveals their unrighteous character; such persons are not qualified to judge God’s holy people.

the kingdom of God See note on 4:20.

idolaters See 1 Thess 1:9 and note; compare Exod 20:3–6.

passive homosexual partners, nor dominant homosexual partners The two related Greek words used at the end of 1 Cor 6:9 are malakos and arsenokoitēs. Translated literally, malakos can mean “soft” or “effeminate.” The term was used to describe a person—often a young boy—in a passive role in same-sex relations. The precise meaning of the second word, arsenokoitēs, is less clear, but it could be used to refer to the dominant role in same-sex intercourse. If these basic definitions are correct, then the two terms function together as a condemnation of same-sex relations (compare Rom 1:26–27).

6:10 greedy persons See note on Eph 5:3.

6:11 were these things Refers to the list in 1 Cor 6:9–10—a powerful testimony to Christ’s forgiveness and salvation.

were washed Implies that God cleansed the Corinthian believers from their sin (vv. 9–10).

you were sanctified See note on 1:2.

were justified God acquitted them of their wrongdoing and accepted them as righteous in His sight (compare 4:4).

6:12 All things are permitted for me The Corinthians likely used this slogan as an excuse to mistreat and abuse the physical body (e.g., through sexual immorality; v. 19). Paul cites it negatively in 10:23. He also says in this verse that it is not beneficial for people to elevate their desires above God’s.

6:13 the stomach for food Describes a person’s sexual appetite using a well-known euphemism from the ancient world. The logic of the metaphor is that just as the stomach’s appetite is meant to be satisfied with food, so the body is meant to be satisfied through sexual activity.

God will abolish both of them Many Greeks rejected the idea of a bodily resurrection because they believed that death separated the body and spirit permanently (see Acts 17:32).

sexual immorality Paul’s argument against sexual immorality relates to his treatise on the believer’s unity with Christ (see 1 Cor 6:15–20). See 5:1.

6:14 will raise us up Believers should not misuse their bodies for sexual immorality because God cares about their bodies that will be resurrected; rather, they must recognize that their bodies belong to the Lord, who will resurrect them (15:35–41).

6:15 members of Christ The individual members of the Church comprise the body of Christ (the Church as a unit). If a believer visits a prostitute, the person not only joins their entire self to a prostitute, but the whole body of Christ.

6:16 The two will become one flesh Paul quotes the Septuagint (Greek translation of the ot) version of Gen 2:24 to support his prohibition of sexual relations with prostitutes. Sexual intercourse creates a unique bond between two people.

6:17 joins himself to the Lord Paul draws from the ot, which describes the union between God and His people (Jer 50:5; Zech 2:11). When people enter into covenant with God, they become united with Him in spirit by the Spirit. This union, like a marriage, restricts them from engaging in other unions that would defile their covenant relationship with God.

6:18 sexual immorality See note on 1 Cor 5:1.

outside his body The Corinthians may have assumed that their physical bodies were not subject to moral instruction (see note on v. 13); thus, they believed that everything is permissible. Paul counters their assumption; he argues that those who sin sexually also sin against their own bodies.

one who commits sexual immorality See note on v. 13.

against his own body See note on 7:4.

6:19 do you not know Paul asks a question to explain his association of the physical body with holiness (vv. 13–17). The nature of this question suggests that the Corinthian believers should already know about this truth.

your body Refers to the body of each believer. Paul’s use of the singular form of “body” may emphasize that each believer is a temple of God. Paul also described the entire church community as the temple of God in 3:16.

the temple In this context, Paul focuses on individual believers instead of the entire church community. See note on 3:16; compare 2 Cor 6:16 and note.

6:20 For you were bought at a price In Paul’s time, masters purchased slaves from other masters, thereby issuing a change in ownership for a slave. Paul reminds the Corinthians that God purchased them from slavery to sin and death through the sacrificial death of Christ. Therefore, they belong to God, not to themselves (1 Cor 6:13; compare Gal 2:19–20).