College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Corinthians 6 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Six
THE PROBLEM OF BASENESS AND BROTHERHOOD
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
What kind of grievances would Christian brethren have against one another? 1 Corinthians 6:1
2.
Why does Paul insist that they not sue one another in civil court? 1 Corinthians 6:1 ff.
3.
How could Paul advise Christians to accept being defrauded? 1 Corinthians 6:7
4.
What has the list of depraved sinners to do with this context? 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
5.
If a man joins himself to a prostitute is he married to her? 1 Corinthians 6:16
APPLICATIONS:
1.
The Bible is vitally practical. It deals with the minutiae of human existence. God even expresses his will and wisdom for guidance in the matter of squabbles and grievances.
2.
Christians must learn to settle grievances between themselves while on earththere will be no pagan civil courts in heaven.
3.
Christians are called to allow (suffer) wrong to be done to them rather than cause wrong to be done to another or to Christ's church.
4.
One does not have to murder someone to go to helljust be greedy!
5.
Homosexuality is not a disease; it is not congenital; it is not mental illnessIT IS SIN!
6.
The most perverse sin may be forgiven if the sinner will trust the word of Christ and be washed, sanctified and justified.
7.
There is no such thing as absolute freedomeven Christian liberty is limited to God's revealed guidelines for goodness and helpfulness.
8.
Any thing, habit or idea that would rule our conduct or dictate our way of thinking contrary to Christ's will is unlawful for Christians.
9.
Sexual intercourse is not the same as or even like eating food. It is not merely a physical function. It is psychologically intimate and essentially moral. It is spiritual!
10.
Human bodies were created by God as instruments through which human beings might express love and adoration for their Creator. Although the flesh will eventually die, while it lives it is to be employed only for loving God.
11.
Human beings, if they are willing, may have the honor of sharing their human bodies with the Spirit of Almighty God.
12.
The apostle Paul's teaching about the human body and its functions is as up-to-date as today's newspaper!
APPREHENSIONS:
1.
What is a grievance?
2.
Why would Christians be suing one another in court?
3.
How will saints be judging the world and angels?
4.
Who are the least esteemed by the church?
5.
Could Christians actually settle disputes with one another over property outside a civil court?
6.
Why does having lawsuits with one another as Christians produce defeat?
7.
Would you be willing to allow yourself to be defrauded by a Christian brother before taking him to civil court?
8.
Sexual misbehavior excludes people from the kingdom of Goddoes financial misbehavior (thievery, robbery, greed)?
9.
Can the sin of homosexuality be repented of and discontinued by accepting Christ?
10.
What is meant by saying that some Corinthian homosexuals were washed, sanctified, justified?
11.
What is meant by saying this was done in the name of the Lord Jesus?
12.
How could all things be lawful for a Christian?
13.
What condition is meant by the term, enslaved?
14.
Why does Paul talk about food being meant for the stomach, etc.?
15.
To what extent is a person joined to a prostitute when having sexual intercourse with one?
16.
For what purpose did God make the human body?
17.
How is every sin except sexual immorality outside the body?
18.
How does the Holy Spirit dwell in the human body?
19.
What is the price paid for us?
20.
Does belonging to Christ mean we have no say about what we think and do? Who does have the say-so?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER SIX
Analysis
A.
Paul shows the shame involved in brethren going to court before pagan judges (1 Corinthians 6:1-11).
1.
He asks a series of questions to get them to consider their sinful practice (1 Corinthians 6:1-4).
a)
He indicates that such a thing was all but unbelievable by asking, Would any one you dare to do this thing?
(1)
It was a fact that one of them had a matter against another (his neighbor) in the family of God.
(2)
It was a fact that they were actually taking their differences before pagan judges to have them settled.
(3)
It was also a fact that they could have gone to a wise brother to get help when differences arose.
b)
He raises further questions to prove the issue that they could have settled their differences by laying them before wise brethren in the church.
(1)
The question was designed to lift their thoughts from their petty problems to an exalted view of the church: Don-'t you know that the saints shall judge the world?
(a)
He assumes that they should have known this.
(b)
He asks, If this is so, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters (the little differences that arise among brethren)?
(2)
Another question points to an even greater responsibility of the saints, Don-'t you know that we shall judge angels?
(a)
In asking the question, he assumes they should known this.
(b)
How much more easily can you judge things pertaining to this life (such as the differences between you)?
c)
He brings all the forces of these questions to bear on the problem before them :
(1)
He assumes that they must also accept the responsibility of deciding matters pertaining to this life.
(2)
He asks, Are you going to set one up as judge who has no standing in the church (one who is a pagan and an outsider)?
2.
He answers the problem raised by the questions (1 Corinthians 6:5-6).
a)
He told them his purpose in the questions; it was to shame them for the thing they were doing.
b)
The shame of this thing is indicated by another question:
(1)
Isn-'t there one wise man among you who can decide a problem between brethren?
(2)
Apparently they were ignoring this possibility for brother was going to law with brother.
(3)
The shocking thing about it was this: they were displaying this weakness before unbelievers.
3.
He shows why all this was wrong (1 Corinthians 6:7-11).
a)
Lawsuits with one another defeat the purpose of the church.
b)
Two questions suggest the better way:
(1)
Why not rather take wrong?
(2)
Why not rather be defrauded?
c)
He raises the question that suggests the importance of the saints-' real possession in contrast to the petty things over which they were going to court before the pagan unbelievers.
(1)
He assumes that they did know about their inheritance in the kingdom of God.
(2)
He makes it clear that the sinners of all categories will not inherit the kingdom of God. This seems to imply that if they stooped to such practices as going to law before pagans to the shame of the church they would not inherit the kingdom of God.
(a)
He lists the kinds of sinners he had in mind: immoral persons, idolaters, adulterers, sensual persons; sodomites, thieves, covetous persons, and robbers.
(b)
He reminds them that some of them had been in these categories.
(c)
He shows them how they had escaped: They got themselves washed, they were sanctified, they were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. This should have reminded them that this sin of going to law to the disgrace of God's saints was not to be tolerated.
B.
Paul shows them that they were to flee from the sins against the body which is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:12-20).
1.
He presents the principles upon which he bases his argument for the correct use of the body (1 Corinthians 6:12-17).
a)
He appeals to the law of expediency (1 Corinthians 6:12-14).
(1)
He states the law and its limitations:
(a)
All things have a lawful purpose in God's plan for His creatures.
(b)
They may not, however, be used to enslave one.
(2)
He gives an example to show what he means:
(a)
Food is for the belly; the belly is equipped to handle food.
(b)
But both of them will God bring to naughtthey, in other words, have only a temporary value.
(3)
He applies the principle to their immoral conduct:
(a)
The body was not made to serve fornication; it was made to serve the Lord.
(b)
The Lord will care for the body for God who raised Christ will raise us up through His power.
b)
His second principle is based on the law of marriage, the two become one flesh (1 Corinthians 6:15-20).
(1)
He uses another series of questions to cause them to think on the problem:
(a)
Don-'t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? That is, they are members of the body of Christ, the church.
(b)
An utterly abhorrent thought is expressed in the next question, Shall I take the members of Christ's body and make them members of a prostitute?
(c)
The application of the principle of unity: one body (with the prostitute); one spirit (with the Lord).
2.
He gives instruction for overcoming the misuse of the body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
a)
He says, Flee from fornication.
b)
He tells why he says this:
(1)
All sins are without the body except the sin of fornication which is a sin against the body.
(2)
The all important reason: The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
c)
Therefore you are to glorify God in the body because you are not your own for you were bought with a price.
Questions
1.
What was Paul's attitude toward those in the church who were taking their differences to pagan judges for settlement?
2.
How does the context explain neighbor as a reference to the brethren in the church and not pagan neighbors?
3.
Is it possible for brethren to avoid differences between themselves at all times?
4.
What are some of the causes of differences?
5.
What principle did Jesus present to help prevent such differences?
6.
What was the general opinion about pagan judges as to the possibility of obtaining justice in their courts?
7.
Why were they called unrighteous?
8.
What experience did Paul have with such judges?
9.
What procedure did Jesus suggest to settle problems between brethren?
10.
Before whom should the cases that arise between brethren be presented for settlement?
11.
How are saints to judge the world?
12.
What does Peter say about the good conduct of the saints in relation to the false charges of gentiles?
13.
In what way were the church members reversing the procedure involved in their responsibility to judge the world?
14.
What is meant by judging the smallest matters?
15.
How are we to understand the fact that the saints will judge angels?
16.
What happened to the angels that sinned?
17.
Who are the principalities and powers mentioned in Ephesians?
18.
In what way does the godly life of the church prove that Satan is wrong in opposing God who created man capable of choosing between right and wrong?
19.
How does the reference to judging angels prove that it was wrong to go before pagan judges to have the problems of brethren settled?
20.
Who are meant by the expression, those who are of no account in the church?
21.
What kind of persons should be sought out to help decide problems between brethren?
22.
In what way should he be wise?
23.
Do these regulations about court action prevent church members from defending themselves in court against outsiders?
24.
What is the more accurate translation of the word rendered defect?
25.
How was the church being defeated by going to court before pagan judges?
26.
Why better to take wrong or be defrauded?
27.
Does this suggest that the Christian is to follow the way of passive non-resistance?
28.
Why did Paul say, Be not deceived?
29.
How does the saint's lot in the kingdom of God help to conquer the desire to get what may not belong to him in this life?
30.
Why are the brethren reminded that there are some who will not inherit the kingdom of God?
31.
What sins had some of them been guilty of before they became Christians?
32.
Why does Paul call this to their attention?
33.
How are sins washed away in baptism?
34.
What does sanctified mean?
35.
What bearing does this have on their problem?
36.
What does justified mean?
37.
What bearing does it have on the problem of going before pagan judges?
38.
What is meant by, in the name of the Lord?
39.
What part does the Holy Spirit have in the acts of washing, sanctification, and justification?
40.
How are we to understand what is implied by the expression, All things?
41.
How does Paul apply the law of expediency to the issue of fornication in the church at Corinth?
42.
How does Paul show that God has an eternal purpose for the body of man?
43.
How has the Lord provided for the needs of the body?
44.
What is meant by the statement that your bodies are members of Christ?
45.
How does Paul use the law of marriage to explain his point about the sin of immorality?
46.
What order did the apostle issue regarding fornication?
47.
How does fornication become a sin against the body?
48.
Do other sins affect the body? How?
49.
What is said about God's presence in those who keep His word?
50.
What did Paul say about Christ living in him?
51.
Through what does Christ dwell in the heart of the Christian?
52.
What is said about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
53.
Does indwelling imply miraculous powers?
54.
How does indwelling of the Holy Spirit call for a holy life before God?
55.
What Old Testament teaching helps to understand the expression, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?
56.
How does Paul's reference to Sin that dwelleth in me by way of contrast help to understand what is meant by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
57.
What is required by way of character and conduct of the one in whom the Spirit dwells?
58.
What price was paid for those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells?
For Discussion
1.
Is the church of which you are a member actually glorifying God before the community?
2.
If not, in what particulars is it failing to do so?
3.
What practical suggestion can you make to correct any failure in this regard?