DARE ANY OF YOU? (τολμα τις υμων;). Does any one of you dare? Rhetorical question with present indicative of τολμαω, old verb from τολμα, daring. Bengel: _grandi verbo notatur laesa majestas Christianorum_. "The word is an argument in itself" (Robertson and Plummer). Apparently Paul has an actual... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD (τον κοσμον κρινουσιν). Future active indicative. At the last day with the Lord Jesus (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30).ARE YE UNWORTHY TO JUDGE THE SMALLEST MATTERS? (αναξιο εστε κριτηριων ελαχιστων;). Αναξιος is an old word (αν and αξιος), though only here in the N.T. There is... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH MORE, THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO THIS LIFE? (Μητ γε βιωτικα;). The question expects the answer no and γε adds sharp point to Paul's surprised tone, "Need I so much as say?" It can be understood also as ellipsis, "let me not say" (μητιγε λεγω), not to say. Βιωτικα occurs first in Aristotle, b... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEN YE HAVE TO JUDGE THINGS PERTAINING TO THIS LIFE (βιωτικα μεν ουν κριτηρια εαν εχητε). Note emphatic position (proleptic) of βιωτικα κριτηρια (tribunals pertaining to this life, as above). "If ye have tribunals pertaining to this life" (condition of third class, εαν εχητε). If καθιζετε (do... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY THIS TO MOVE YOU TO SHAME (προς εντροπην υμιν λεγω). Old word εντροπη from εντρεπω, to turn in (1 Corinthians 4:14 which see). In N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 15:34.ONE WISE MAN (σοφος). From sarcasm to pathos Paul turns.DOES THERE NOT EXIST (εν, short form for ενεστ)? With double n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT BEFORE UNBELIEVERS (κα τουτο επ απιστων). Climactic force of κα. The accusative of general reference with τουτο. "That there should be disputes about βιωτικα is bad; that Christian should go to law with Christian is worse; that Christians should do this before unbelievers is worst of all... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, ALREADY IT IS ALTOGETHER A DEFECT AMONG YOU (ηδη μεν ουν ολως ηττημα υμιν εστιν). "Indeed therefore there is to you already (to begin with, ηδη, before any question of courts) wholly defeat." Hηττημα (from ητταομα) is only here, Romans 11:12; Isaiah 31:8 and ecclesiastical writers. See ητταομ... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, BUT YE YOURSELVES DO WRONG AND DEFRAUD (αλλα υμεις αδικειτε κα αποστερειτε). "But (adversative αλλα, on the contrary) you (emphatic) do the wronging and the robbing" (active voices) "and that your brethren" (κα τουτο αδελφους). Same idiom as at close of verse 1 Corinthians 6:6. The very clim... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UNRIGHTEOUS (αδικο). To remind them of the verb αδικεω just used.THE KINGDOM OF GOD (θεου βασιλειαν). Precisely, God's kingdom.BE NOT DECEIVED (μη πλανασθε). Present passive imperative with negative μη. Do not be led astray by plausible talk to cover up sin as mere animal behaviourism. Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU (κα ταυτα τινες ητε). A sharp homethrust. Literally, "And these things (ταυτα, neuter plural) were ye (some of you)." The horror is shown by ταυτα, but by τινες Paul narrows the picture to some, not all. But that was in the past (ητε, imperfect indicative) like Romans 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
LAWFUL (εξεστιν). Apparently this proverb may have been used by Paul in Corinth (repeated in 1 Corinthians 10:23), but not in the sense now used by Paul's opponents. The "all things" do not include such matters as those condemned in chapter 1 Corinthians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. Paul limits the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD SHALL BRING TO NOUGHT BOTH IT AND THEM (ο δε θεος κα ταυτην κα ταυτα καταργησε). Another proverb about the adaptation of the belly (κοιλια) and food (βρωματα, not just flesh), which had apparently been used by some in Corinth to justify sexual license (fornication and adultery). These Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL RAISE UP US (ημας εξεγερε). Future active indicative of εξεγειρω though the MSS. vary greatly, some having the present and some even the aorist. But the resurrection of the body gives added weight to Paul's argument about the dignity and destiny of the body (_quanta dignitas_, Bengel) which... [ Continue Reading ]
MEMBERS OF CHRIST (μελη Χριστου). Old word for limbs, members. Even the Stoics held the body to be common with the animals (Epictetus, _Diss_. l. iii. 1) and only the reason like the gods. Without doubt some forms of modern evolution have contributed to the licentious views of animalistic sex indu... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE BODY (εν σωμα). With the harlot. That union is for the harlot the same as with the wife. The words quoted from Genesis 2:24 describing the sexual union of husband and wife, are also quoted and explained by Jesus in Matthew 19:5 which see for discussion of the translation Hebraism with use of... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE SPIRIT (εν πνευμα). With the Lord, the inner vital spiritual union with the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 4:4; Ephesians 5:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
FLEE (φευγετε). Present imperative. Have the habit of fleeing without delay or parley. Note abruptness of the asyndeton with no connectives. Fornication violates Christ's rights in our bodies (verses 1 Corinthians 6:13-17) and also ruins the body itself.WITHOUT THE BODY (εκτος του σωματος). Eve... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE (το σωμα υμων ναος εστιν). A sanctuary as in 1 Corinthians 3:16 which see. Our spirits dwell in our bodies and the Holy Spirit dwells in our spirits. Some of the Gnostics split hairs between the sins of the body and fellowship with God in the spirit. Paul will have none of t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE (ηγορασθητε γαρ τιμης). First aorist passive indicative of αγοραζω, old verb to buy in the marketplace (αγορα). With genitive of price. Paul does not here state the price as Peter does in 1 Peter 1:19 (the blood of Christ) and as Jesus does in Matthew 20:28 (his li... [ Continue Reading ]