Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 6

Verse 1

The unjust ; heathen magistrates, the same as "unbelievers," verse 1 Corinthians 6:6 .

Verse 2

Judge the world ; be highly exalted with Christ at the day of judgment, and cooperate in his decisions.

Verse 4

Judgments ; cases of difference to be settled.

Of things pertaining to this life ; not requiring, therefore, for their settlement the possession of high spiritual gifts.

Set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church ; no men who were least esteemed for integrity and intelligence in common things; but men who, not being endowed with those shining spiritual gifts so highly coveted by some-"all utterance, and all knowledge," chap 1 Corinthians 1:5 -were placed by their leaders in the lowest rank. See chap 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 ; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ; 1 Corinthians 14:1-40 . Such, according to our version, seems to be the meaning of this difficult passage. But two other renderings are proposed, which refer these words to the heathen magistrates: first, interrogatively, "Do ye set," etc. implying a stern rebuke; secondly, indicatively, "ye set," etc. The words would then be a simple statement of their wrong conduct, which the apostle proceeds, in the following verse, to censure.

Verse 7

Utterly a fault ; they did wrong in going to the heathen to decide their differences. They ought to have decided them by arbitration, or in some other way, among themselves. It were better even to suffer wrong, than thus to do wrong. All differences of Christians should be settled among themselves, according to principles of equity, without appealing to civil tribunals, especially those of wicked men.

Verse 9

The unrighteous ; those who are dishonest and defraud others, whether under the cover of law, or in any other way.

Verse 10

The dishonest, the unjust, the impure, and those who seek wealth, honor, or pleasure as the chief good, whatever their professions, or to whatever church they may externally belong, if they continue such, will, with drunkards, idolaters, thieves, robbers, murderers, and all the openly vicious, be for ever excluded from heaven.

Verse 12

All things are lawful ; which are not forbidden of God.

Not expedient ; because not adapted to do good.

Not be brought under the power ; he would not be the slave of any appetite or passion. A wise man will govern his appetites and passions, not be governed by them; nor will he indulge them, except so far as shall tend to fit both his body and mind for the best discharge of all the duties of life.

Verse 13

Shall destroy both it and them ; they are both temporary, and God shall do away both at death. It follows that meats are among the indifferent things, in respect to which the believer should be careful that he does not abuse his Christian liberty.

For the Lord ; the use to be made of the body is not an indifferent thing. He made and preserves it to be employed not in sinning, but in serving him.

The Lord for the body ; he died that not only the soul, but the body also, should be saved from the effects of sin, and raised from the grace spiritual and immortal, to serve him for ever.

Verse 15

Your bodies are the members of Christ ; he has redeemed the bodies as well as the souls of believers. As such they are spiritually united to him now, and shall be throughout eternity.

Verse 17

Is one spirit ; one spirit with Christ: Christ dwells in him and he in Christ. This mutual union makes him spiritual as Christ is spiritual.

Verse 18

Flee ; do not stop to reason about it or think of it. Turn from it with detestation, and occupy your mind with things right and good.

Is without the body ; it is true of sins in general that they are without the body; in other words, do not consist in a direct prostitution and dishonor of it.

Sinneth against his own body ; by prostituting it in the way named in verses 1 Corinthians 6:15-16 . It is the shame and guilt of the sin itself that the apostle has chiefly in mind. The dreadful physical consequences of lewdness are the brand of infamy which God puts upon it, as the greatest and most direct dishonor and abuse of the body.

Verse 19

The temple ; the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 20

Bought with a price ; the blood of Christ. Good men feel that they are in the highest sense the property of God; and that the first principles of honesty require them in all things to glorify him.