Brief Note on 1 Corinthians 6:1-11

1 Are any of you^s, having something against another, so bold as to go to court in front of the unrighteous and not before the saints?

2 Don’t you^p know that the saints will judge the world? If the world will be judged by you^p, are you^p unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

[There are many interpretations of this verse. We do know that Paul is talking to Christians. Secondly, we know that the topic is Christians filing lawsuits against one another. The word for judge is κρίνω krínō (G2919). It means to select, decide, judge in different applications. Thirdly, the saints (Christian believers) are going to be making decisions, just as they are able in the “things that pertain to this life.” The word “judge” the smallest matters is the Greek word κριτήριον kritḗrion (G2922). It refers to the place of decisions as in James 2:6 (judgment seats). Compare the Old Testament in Psalm 149:5-9. The point is there is no reason to go to government courts for many things that can be decided upon in the congregation. Note, crimes as abuse, molestation, robbery, assault, murder, etc. must be in a government court because these crimes are breaking of law].

3 Don’t you^p know that we will judge angels? How much more are the things that pertain to this life?

[Many understand the word angels to refer to fallen angels, those who joined lucifer in his rebellion. Others, which I agree with, believe this also refers to holy angels who will be our assistants in whatever service God assigns us in the Millennium and in eternity. Compare Hebrews 1:14].

4 Then, when you^p need judicial decisions on things pertaining to this life, do you^p set them before those who have no standing in the church?

[Paul states that those church members who are considered of low ability are better than heathen judges in government. He is asking a question, yet some understand it as a command. Farrar paraphrases this verse as, Dare they, the destined judges of the world and of angels, go to law about mere earthly trifles, and that before the heathen? Why did they not rather set up the very humblest members of the Church to act as judges in such matters]?

5 I say this to your^p shame. Is it so that there isn’t someone wise among you^p, not even one who will be able to judge between the brethren?

6 Yet brother goes to law with brother and that in front of the unbelievers.

7 Now, isn’t there already a failure among you^p, because you^p have lawsuits against one another? Why don’t you^p take the wrong instead? Why don’t you^p put up with being cheated?

8 But, you^p, YOU^p, do wrong and cheat and [your^p] brethren no less.

9 Don’t you^p know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived, for neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, active homosexual partners,

10 Thieves, covetous, drunkards, verbal abusers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 Such were some of you^p, but now you^p are washed, but now you^p are sanctified, but now you^p are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.