Brief notes on my translation of 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Apostolic Counsel—Sexual Immorality
12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not beneficial. All things may be lawful for me, but I will not be under the control of any.
13 Foods are for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will do away with both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual sins but for the Lord and the Lord for the body.
[This passage teaches that there is a correct use of food, stomach, and sex, but the Lord’s standard is what we are to do. Sexual pleasures are not the highest pleasure. The highest and greatest pleasure is living God’s way of life and by His standard].
14 God has both raised the Lord and will also raise us by his own power.
[Raised means resurrected].
15 Don’t youp know that yourp bodies are members of Christ? Will I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Absolutely not!
[Greek/Roman life at this time had little purpose. The soul/spirit had the highest purpose. Since the body had no purpose who cares what one did with their body. Some chose asceticism but most chose to sin and sin much with their body. God has a different view as seen in verse 20: Therefore, glorify God in yourp body and in yourp spirit, which are God’s].
16 What, don’t youp know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? “…for two,” he says, “will be one flesh.” [Genesis 2:24]
17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee sexual sins. Every sin that a person does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
19 What, don’t youp know that yourp body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in youp, which youp have from God, and youp are not yourp own?
20 For youp are bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in yourp body and in yourp spirit, which are God’s.
[Paul is teaching God’s thoughts about our bodies. God places a high standard and view of our bodies. The “price” was the death and blood of our Passover Lamb—Jesus Christ. We are free but not free to sin. One of the blessings of redemption is that we are no longer slaves of sin. Compare Romans 6:12-18, 22-24, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 2:16, and 2 Peter 2:19].