1 Corinthians 6 - Introduction

Legal And Moral Problems First Corinthians Six

In the church at Corinth there was a brother that had his father's wife. Paul instructed brethren to practice church discipline to resolve that issue. There were also other inconsistencies among the people of God in Corinth. Many of the problems that Paul dealt with sprang from the Corinthian's lax view of sin. Among other things that were going on at Corinth Christians were taking their personal disputes into Roman courts and hurting their influence as children of God.

Paul knew that Christians should be able to resolve conflict among brethren rather than taking the matter before heathen courts. He said it would even be better to suffer wrong than to disgrace the Lord's name before heathens. Christians should make the best judges because they have the wisdom to judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24) Paul wondered if there was not one godly man at Corinth that could be trusted to judge in these matters that were dividing brethren. He was not saying that the church should establish "Christian courts." Rather he felt that there should be some godly brother that could arbitrate in the matter and resolve it without the law suits.

The expression "Know ye not" or "Do you not know" is found six times in I Corinthians chapter six. Paul wrote: (1) "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?" (1 Corinthians 6:2), (2) "Do you not know that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:3), (3) "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?" (1 Corinthians 6:9) (4) "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 6:15) (5) "Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?" (1 Corinthians 6:16), and (6) "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit..." (1 Corinthians 6:19) Each of these thoughts were things the brethren should have already known