1 Corinthians 6

King James Version

Full text for 1 Corinthians Chapter 6

1¶ Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded?

8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren.

9¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

12¶ All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid.

16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul rebukes the Corinthian believers for taking their disputes to secular courts, reminding them that saints will judge the world and should be able to resolve their own matters. He warns that the unrighteous, including fornicators and idolaters, will not inherit the kingdom of God, but reminds them of their cleansing in Christ. The apostle then emphasizes that believers' bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost, urging them to flee fornication and glorify God with their bodies, for they are bought with a price.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with Paul expressing shame that believers are suing one another before unbelievers, questioning their inability to judge even the smallest matters when they are destined to judge the world and angels. He states it is a fault to go to law with a brother and that it is better to suffer wrong or be defrauded. Paul then lists various unrighteous acts, such as fornication, idolatry, and theft, declaring that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God, yet reminds the Corinthians that they were once such but are now washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ. He addresses the idea that 'all things are lawful,' clarifying that not all are expedient and that the body is not for fornication but for the Lord. He concludes by stressing that their bodies are members of Christ and the temple of the Holy Ghost, urging them to flee fornication as a sin against their own body, and to glorify God because they are bought with a price.

Long Summary

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul begins by sharply rebuking the Corinthian believers for daring to take their legal disputes against fellow Christians to unbelieving judges, rather than resolving them within the church. He reminds them of their future exalted role, stating that the saints shall judge the world and even angels, and therefore should be capable of judging the 'smallest matters' of this life. Paul expresses shame that there appears to be no wise person among them capable of arbitrating between brethren, and laments that brother goes to law with brother before unbelievers. He declares that this practice is utterly a fault among them, suggesting it is better to suffer wrong or be defrauded than to engage in such litigation. He further condemns them for actively wronging and defrauding their own brethren. Moving to a different but related topic, Paul sternly warns that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, providing a comprehensive list of sins including fornication, idolatry, adultery, effeminacy, homosexuality, theft, covetousness, drunkenness, reviling, and extortion. He then offers a powerful reminder of their transformation, stating that some of them were once such, but have been 'washed,' 'sanctified,' and 'justified' in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God. Paul then addresses the Corinthian slogan, 'All things are lawful unto me,' clarifying that while this may be true, not all things are expedient, and he will not be brought under the power of any. He distinguishes between food for the belly, which God will destroy, and the body itself, which is not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. He reminds them that God, who raised the Lord, will also raise them up by His own power. Emphasizing the sacredness of the body, Paul asks if they do not know that their bodies are 'members of Christ,' and questions whether they would then take the members of Christ and make them 'members of an harlot,' explaining that joining with a harlot makes one body. Conversely, he states that he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. He issues a direct command to 'flee fornication,' explaining its unique nature as a sin against one's own body, unlike other sins which are 'without the body.' Finally, he concludes by reiterating that their body is the 'temple of the Holy Ghost' within them, which they have of God, and that they are 'not your own,' for they are 'bought with a price.' Therefore, they are exhorted to 'glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.'

Core Concepts

  • Internal Dispute ResolutionPaul rebukes believers for taking their legal disputes to secular courts, emphasizing that saints are destined to judge the world and angels, and should therefore be capable of resolving their own matters internally.
  • Exclusion from God's KingdomA clear list of unrighteous behaviors, including fornication, idolatry, and theft, is presented as actions that prevent one from inheriting the Kingdom of God, though the Corinthians are reminded of their past but now cleansed state.
  • Sanctification and JustificationThe chapter affirms that believers, though formerly engaged in various sins, have been 'washed, sanctified, and justified' in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God, highlighting their transformed status.
  • The Body's Sacred PurposeThe body is declared to be for the Lord, a member of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Ghost, emphasizing its divine ownership and purpose beyond mere physical appetites or personal desires.
  • Fleeing FornicationBelievers are commanded to 'flee fornication,' as it is uniquely a sin against one's own body, which is a member of Christ and the temple of the Holy Ghost, demanding active avoidance.
  • Divine OwnershipThe chapter concludes by stating that believers are 'not your own' but 'bought with a price,' signifying their redemption and God's ultimate ownership, which obligates them to glorify God in their bodies and spirits.