Chapter Six
1 Cor. 6:1. How dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
Many were litigating in monetary disputes before Greek judges, as experts in law. Therefore he endeavors to correct this evil, which came to his mind incidentally. For having mentioned the covetous, he suddenly boiled over with zealous concern for those infected with such a sin. And see what indignation he shows from the very beginning, calling this matter audacity and lawlessness. He did not say: before the unbelievers, but: "before the unrighteous"; for everyone who litigates usually seeks justice, therefore the apostle shows that they will not find it, because the Greek judges are unrighteous, he says, so how will they judge you justly? He calls the faithful saints, showing by the very names the distinction between the former and the latter; for the ones are unrighteous, while the others are holy.
1 Cor. 6:2. Do you not know that the saints will judge (κρινοῦσι) the world?
Since the faithful, as unlearned people, seemed incapable of judging disputes, he imparts to them weight and importance: first, he called them saints, then said that they will judge the world. This should not, however, be understood as though they will occupy the seats of judges and pronounce verdicts (the Lord will judge); no, they will only condemn (κατακρινοῦσιν). Indeed, if they, being like all others, turned out to be believers, while those others did not believe, is this not a condemnation of the unbelievers?
1 Cor. 6:2. If the world will be judged by you, are you then unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Look, he did not say: will receive judgment from you, but "will be judged by you"; because you, having believed, were an example for the world. The saying "are unworthy to judge trivial matters" has this meaning: it seems the Corinthians were ashamed to be judged by those within; therefore he says: on the contrary, it is shameful for you when you are judged before those without; for those courts are bad, and not such as those within.
1 Cor. 6:3. Do you not know that we shall judge angels, how much more the things of this life?
Angels he calls the demons. So then, we shall judge even the demons if, despite being clothed in flesh, we prove ourselves more perfect than they who have no flesh.
1 Cor. 6:4-5. But you, when you have lawsuits concerning matters of this life, appoint as your judges those who are of no account in the church. I say this to your shame: is there not even one wise person among you who would be able to judge between his brothers? (ανά μέσον του αδελφού αυτού)
Wishing to turn them away from external courts, he says: perhaps someone will say that in the Church there is no one wise who could adjudicate disputes. But if, in your opinion, there is not a single wise person in the Church, then it is better to appoint as judges those who are of lesser account than unbelievers. However, I said this to your shame, if indeed there are so few wise among you that judgments must be carried out by simple and uneducated people. He added the words "between his brothers" in order to show that in such a case, when there is a dispute with a brother, extensive knowledge is not needed, because brotherly disposition contributes most of all to the resolution of the quarrel.
1 Cor. 6:6. But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.
A twofold evil: one is that it is conducted against a brother, and the other is that it is conducted before unbelievers.
1 Cor. 6:7. Indeed it is already very degrading for you that you have lawsuits among yourselves.
Previously he forbade going to court before unbelievers, and now he forbids judgment itself, saying: "and this is already very degrading for you," that is, reprehensible and shameful, "that you have lawsuits," that is, disputed matters, with one another (this is what the words "among yourselves" mean). The Apostle said this with particular expressiveness, for we Christians must regard one another as brothers.
1 Cor. 6:7-8. Why do you not rather accept being wronged? Why do you not rather suffer loss? But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that too your brothers.
Many accusations. The first is that they do not know how to endure wrongs; the second is that, on the contrary, they themselves commit wrongs; the third is that they wrong their brothers. It would be good, he says, both not to wrong others and not to suffer wrongs; but if one must choose one of the two, it is better to suffer wrongs.
1 Cor. 6:9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God?
He concludes the exhortation with a threat, intensifying his speech and asking them about a matter known to all.
1 Cor. 6:9. Do not be deceived.
Here he hints at those of the Corinthians who said that God is loving of mankind and will not punish, but will bring them into the Kingdom. Therefore he says: "do not be deceived": for indeed it is clear self-delusion and error to expect all manner of blessings here, and there to be subjected to punishment.
1 Cor. 6:9. Neither fornicators.
He puts the one who is already condemned in first place.
1 Cor. 6:9. Neither idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate.
Those who have shameful things done to them he calls "malakoi," and then he goes on to list those who do the shameful things.