VI. (1) DARE ANY OF YOU. — Having rebuked the Corinthian Christians for any attempt to judge those who are outside the Church — _i.e.,_ the heathen — St. Paul now insists, on the other hand, on the importance of their not submitting their affairs for decision to the heathen tribunals. Jewish convert... [ Continue Reading ]
DO YE NOT KNOW... ? — The knowledge which they possessed of the great future which was in store for the Church of Christ was the strongest argument against the humiliating degradation to which their conduct was subjecting it. THE SAINTS SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD. — The Apostle here claims for all Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SHALL JUDGE ANGELS. — Many conjectures have been made as to the exact significance of the word “angels” here. Some suggest that it must signify bad angels; but this would be an unusual use of the word without any qualifying adjective. It is better, perhaps, to regard the passage as a climax arisi... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEN YE HAVE JUDGMENTS.... — Better, _If, however, you choose to have judgments to be given on matters of this life._ The last words show that the questions which are alluded to are purely worldly and not spiritual matters. The Apostle subsequently urges that such disputes ought not to arise at a... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK TO YOUR SHAME. — Better, _I say this to cause you to feel ashamed._ From the latent irony of the previous words, the Apostle turns to ask solemnly whether it be a fact that in the whole Christian community at Corinth, which boasted of their superior wisdom, there is not to be found even one... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BROTHER GOETH TO LAW WITH BROTHER. — “It would almost seem as if it were not so. Your dragging these disputes before tribunals of the heathen would imply that it is not possible to find a Christian friend whom you can trust to settle these trivial disputes.” Thus the Apostle answers his question... [ Continue Reading ]
A FAULT. — Better, _a falling short_ of your privilege and dignity as Christians. It is the same word as is rendered “diminishing” in Romans 11:12. The Apostle in this verse goes one step farther, and condemns the Corinthians, not only on the ground of the tribunals to which they resorted being heat... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, YE DO WRONG. — Better, _No, but you yourselves do wrong. _... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW YE NOT THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS...? — The force of this question comes out more strikingly in the original, where the word rendered “unrighteous” is the same as “ye do wrong” of 1 Corinthians 6:8. “You do wrong, apparently forgetting that no wrongdoers shall inherit God’s kingdom.” BE NOT DECEIVED.... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. — The Greek for “such” is in the neuter, and implies “of such a description were some of you.” YE ARE WASHED. — Better, _ye washed them off._ referring to the fact that their baptism was a voluntary act (Acts 22:16). The words “sanctified” and “justified” as used here do not p... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL UNTO ME. — This was probably a statement which the Apostle had himself made; at all events, the freedom which it expresses was very dear to him, and it may have been misused by some as an argument for universal license. St. Paul, therefore, boldly repeats it, and proceeds to sh... [ Continue Reading ]
MEATS FOR THE BELLY. — The Apostle proceeds now to show that the question of eating meats offered to idols does come into that catalogue of indifferent things on which an exercise of Christian freedom is permissible, and that the question of fornication does not. Lawful matters are to be decided upo... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL ALSO RAISE UP US. — This phrase is remarkable as one of the few which show that the Apostle, while he in common with the early Church expected the early advent of Christ, did not think that it would necessarily occur in his own lifetime. Here, as ever, the resurrection of the dead, when we shal... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL I THEN ...? — Having shown the great dignity which attaches to our bodies as immortal members of Christ, the Apostle asks with indignant emphasis, “Shall I take them out from that high and holy membership, and make them members of an harlot?” The double act of taking them away from their glori... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT? — As if some one might question and resent the strength of the previous words, and wish them “watered down.” “Do you not know that my strong assertion is true? It is not merely my statement; it is to be found in the Old Testament, ‘Two shall be one flesh.’” This was originally (Genesis 2:24) a... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE SPIRIT. — The union betwixt Christ and each member of His Church is a spiritual one. This explains the sense in which we are the Lord’s body, and intensifies the argument against any degradation of one who shares so holy and intimate a union.... [ Continue Reading ]
FLEE FORNICATION. — These last three verses of the chapter contain a solemn exhortation to purity, arising out of the previous argument. WITHOUT THE BODY. — The word “body” is still to be understood as used of the whole “human nature,” which is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 6:19 as the temple of the H... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT? KNOW YE NOT...? — These verses read better rendered thus: _Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you? Which you have from God, and you are not your own. For you were bought with a price. Glorify God then in your body._ There are two reasons why we are not... [ Continue Reading ]