Free Bible Commentary
“1 Corinthians 6:1-8”
Categories: 1 Corinthians“Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Apostle continues his rebuke of the brethren in the Church at Corinth for their refusal to deal with their sinful internal issues. In chapter 5 he reprimanded them for their failure to discipline a brother who was openly involved in a scandalous sin. In today’s passage he admonishes them for their failure to intervene in personal, petty disputes. This is likely indicative of the leavening influence of the society in which they lived that had not been fully “purged” since they obeyed the Gospel. Litigation in Gentile society was kind of like a “sport” or “contest” that the people relished taking participation in.
Paul started by saying “Does any one of you…dare to go to law before the unrighteous…” (verse 1). Just like the previous sin of chapter 5, this was so obviously wrong that they should have known it. It must have taken brash “courage” to do something like this, and actually think that God would not be displeased. The word “unrighteous” means “unjust”. Paul used a little word play here by asking them if they actually thought they can get “justice” from the “unjust”. The saints are much more suitable arbiters in minor (“smallest” – verse 2) matters than secular courts, because they are governed by a much higher set of moral standards. At least they should be.
Paul uses a “from the greater to the lesser” argument to prove his point. He says that Christians will “judge the world,” and “judge angels” (verses 2-3), to demonstrate that they should be able to pass judgment among themselves in their petty, worldly conflicts. When Christ returns, Christians will somehow participate in judging the world. I’m not exactly sure how we will do this, but some passages that MAY allude to this are Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; Revelation 2:26-27. We will also somehow judge angels as well. God only made mankind lower than the angels “for a little while” (Hebrews 2:6-7). Only humans were created in the image of God, so we are actually of higher “rank” in the Lord’s grand scheme.
It is foolishness for God’s children to “appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church” (verse 4). We should respect the laws of the land, and we are permitted to properly use the secular legal systems that have been legitimately put into place, just like Paul did on occasion (Acts 25:11; 28:19). But it is “shameful” (verse 5) to take a brother or sister before pagan, heathen judges who are not wise in the ways of the Lord! By the way, I don’t believe this passage is teaching that it is NEVER appropriate to “sue” a Christian. Paul is not dealing with any and every legal situation that can possibly arise. When he wrote about the “smallest law courts” in verse 2, I think it is clear that he is referring to “petty” matters that brethren should be able to work out amongst themselves.
In 1 Corinthians 1:26, Paul stated that there were “not many wise according to the flesh” at the church in Corinth. But surely there must have been one “wise man among” them (verse 5)! In verse 7 he wrote, “It is already a defeat for you.” They had already lost their case before it ever when to trial. Regardless of who might have actually “won” the decision. Just the mere fact that they were suing one another in secular courts of law was a “no win,” wrong-headed, “lose-lose” situation. He went on to write, “why not rather be defrauded?” or “wronged”. It is much better and wiser and more righteous to patiently endure an offense than to file a lawsuit against a brother or sister in Christ. Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek” and “Go the extra mile” when we are offended, instead of striking back and demanding our rights (Matthew 5:38-42).
Of all the people in the whole world, we should love and treat our brothers and sisters in Christ the very best. Even better than ourselves. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:9-11)
Please read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 for tomorrow.
Have a wonderful Saturday!
- Louie Taylor
