1.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Verse 1
The unjust; heathen tribunals.--The saints; Christian tribunals.
2.
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Verse 2
Shall judge the world. There are various allusions in the sacred writings founded upon the idea that, when Christ should appear upon the earth to establish his final kingdom, his people should be elevated to stations of trust and responsibility, and associated with him in the administration of his government.(Comp. 2 Timothy 2:12.Revelation 3:21.)
3.
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Verse 3
That we shall judge angels; a still stronger expression than the preceding, in regard to, the future advancement of the faithful, servants of Christ.
4.
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
Verse 4
Set them to judge who are least esteemed. The apostle proposes this not seriously, but speaks it, as he says in the 1 Corinthians 6:5, to their shame, that is, to show, in a clear light, how absurd was the course which they had pursued.
1 Corinthians 6:12,1 Corinthians 6:13. These verses are somewhat obscure. Paul evidently here passes to another subject, and the language used is generally considered as a sort of dialogue with one disposed to defend himself in his transgressions. Thus, all things are lawful for me, says the objector; to which Paul replies, that, admitting this, all things are not expedient. And so with the other clauses. This explanation, however, does not seem to be entirely satisfactory.
5.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6.
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8.
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9.
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10.
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11.
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12.
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
13.
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Verse 13
The body is not for fornication; the body is not formed to be given up to the dominion of its propensities and passions, but to be devoted to the Lord Jesus.
14.
And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15.
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16.
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Verse 16
Two, saith he, &c. This was originally spoken of the union between the husband and wife, (Genesis 2:24,) but is here applied to a different case.
17.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18.
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commiteth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Verse 18
Is without the body; is not a sin directly against his own body.
19.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.