The main design of this chapter is to reprove the Corinthians for the practice of going to law before pagan courts, or magistrates, instead of settling their differences among themselves. It seems that after their conversion they were still in the habit of carrying their causes before pagan tribunal... [ Continue Reading ]
DARE ANY OF YOU - The reasons why the apostle introduced this subject here may have been: * That he had mentioned the subject of judging 1 Corinthians 5:13, and that naturally suggested the topic which is here introduced; and, * This might have been a prevailing evil in the church of Corinth, an... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE NOT KNOW ... - The object of this verse is evidently to show that Christians were qualified to determine controversies which might arise among themselves. This the apostle shows by reminding them that they shall be engaged in determining matters of much more moment than those which could arise... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL JUDGE ANGELS - All the angels that shall be judged, good or bad. Probably the reference is to fallen angels, as there is no account that holy angels will then undergo a trial. The sense is, “Christians will be qualified to see the justice of even the sentence which is pronounced on fallen ange... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE JUDGMENTS - Causes; controversies; suits. THINGS PERTAINING TO THIS LIFE - Property, etc. SET THEM TO JUDGE ... - The verb translated set καθίζετε kathizete may be either in the imperative mood, as in our translation, and then it will imply a command; or it may be regarded as in the indica... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK TO YOUR SHAME - I declare that which is a reproach to you, that your matters of dispute are carried before pagan tribunals. IS IT SO ... - Can it be that in the Christian church - the church collected in refined and enlightened Corinth - there is not a single member so wise, intelligent and... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BROTHER ... - One Christian goes to law with another. This is designed as a reproof. This was wrong: * Because they ought rather to take wrong and suffer themselves to be injured 1 Corinthians 6:7; * Because they might have chosen some persons to settle the matter by arbitration without a fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS UTTERLY A FAULT - There is ALtogether a fault; or you are entirely wrong in this thing. THAT YE GO TO LAW ... - That is, in the sense under discussion, or before pagan magistrates. This was the point under discussion, and the interpretation should be limited to this. Whatever may be the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, YE DO WRONG ... - Instead of enduring wrong patiently and cheerfully. they were themselves guilty oi injustice and fraud. AND THAT YOUR BRETHREN - Your fellow Christians. As if they had injured those of their own family - those to whom they ought to be attached by most tender ties. The offence... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE NOT ... - The apostle introduces the declaration in this verse to show the evil of their course, and especially of the injustice which they did one to another, and their attempt to enforce and maintain the evil by an appeal to the pagan tribunals. He assures them, therefore, that the unjust... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR COVETOUS; - See the note at 1 Corinthians 5:10. It is remarkable that the apostle always ranks “the covetous” with the most abandoned classes of people. NOR REVILERS - The same word which in 1 Corinthians 5:11, is rendered railer; see the note at that place. NOR EXTORTIONERS - See the note at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SUCH - Such drunkards, lascivious, and covetous persons. This shows: (1) The exceeding grace of God that could recover even such persons from sins so debasing and degrading. (2) It shows that we are not to despair of reclaiming the most abandoned and wretched people. (3) It is well for Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL UNTO ME - The apostle here evidently makes a transition to another subject from that which he had been discussing - a consideration of the propriety of using certain things which had been esteemed lawful. The expression, “all things are lawful,” is to be understood as used by t... [ Continue Reading ]
MEATS FOR THE BELLY ... - This has every appearance of being an adage or proverb. Its meaning is plain. “God has made us with appetites for food; and he has made food adapted to such appetites, and it is right, therefore, to indulge in luxurious living.” The word “belly” here κοιλία koilia denotes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GOD HATH BOTH RAISED UP ... - This is the “second” argument against indulgences in this sin. It is this. “We are united to Christ. God has raised him from the dead, and made his body glorified. Our bodies will be like his (compare Philippians 3:21); and since our body is to be raised up by the p... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE NOT ... - This is the third argument against licentiousness. It is, that we as Christians are united to Christ (compare the notes at John 15:1 ff); and that it is abominable to take the members of Christ and subject them to pollution and sin. Christ was pure - wholly pure. We are professedly... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT IS JOINED TO THE LORD - The true Christian, united by faith to the Lord Jesus; see John 15:1 ff. IS ONE SPIRIT - That is, in a sense similar to that in which a man and his wife are one body. It is not to be taken literally; but the sense is, that there is a close and intimate union; they... [ Continue Reading ]
FLEE FORNICATION - A solemn command of God - as explicit as any that thundered from Mount Sinai. None can disregard it with impunity - none can violate it without being exposed to the awful vengeance of the Almighty. There is force and emphasis in the word “flee” φεύγατε pheugate. Man should escape... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT! KNOW YE NOT ... - This is the fifth argument against this sin. The Holy Spirit dwells in us; our bodies are his temples; and they should not be defiled and polluted by sin; see the note at 1 Corinthians 3:16. As this Spirit is in us, and as it is given us by God, we ought not to dishonor the g... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE BOUGHT - Ye Christians are purchaseD; and by right of purchase should therefore be employed as he directs. This doctrine is often taught in the New Testament, and the argument is often urged that, therefore, Christians should be devoted to God; see 1 Corinthians 7:23; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]