Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:4

μὲν οὖν. Stronger than the simple οὖν, and making βιωτικά still more emphatic.

κριτήρια. Here at first sight the A.V. causes would seem to give the best sense once more. But the translation ‘if then ye should possess tribunals relating to matters of this life,’ is equally admissible.

τούτους καθίζετε. Three renderings of this passage are possible. (1) with A.V. we may take καθίζετε as imperative, ‘put the most contemptible members of your body to decide questions of so slight importance;’ (2) καθίζετε indicative and affirmative, ‘ye are setting the most insignificant persons in the eyes of the Church,’ i.e. the heathen, to settle these questions; (3) καθίζετε indicative and interrogative, with R.V. ‘is it your custom to set such persons to decide such questions?’ Either (1) or (3) will make good sense, while (2) is open to the objection that the Apostle was not likely to encourage a tendency which his Master had emphatically condemned, and which was too likely to exist—that toward regarding the heathen as fit objects of contempt. (1) is preferable, from the emphatic position of ἐξουθενημένους, and also from the position of καθίζετε, as well as from what follows. See next note. And also from the reason that it was very obviously not the fact that the Corinthians were setting persons of no repute in the Church to decide such trifling questions, but on the contrary, were considering them important enough to take before heathen tribunals.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:4

Old Testament

New Testament