1 Corinthians 6:1-2
When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about avoiding secular courts; it highlights a profound disconnect: going to unrighteous judges when you have a case against a saint (a believer) reveals a serious lack of trust in the community of faith to handle matters justly. The question is less about the act of legal recourse and more about the shame of needing outside, worldly judgment when God's people should be capable of resolving disputes internally.
Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, a city known for its immorality and division. Earlier, he's been dealing with serious issues like sexual sin within the community, and now he's tackling disputes between believers. This question arises as he criticizes them for taking their disagreements to secular, pagan courts, essentially airing their dirty laundry in front of those who don't know God, instead of resolving them internally according to God's principles.
Imagine bringing your deepest family disputes to people who don't know your parents. That’s what Paul says believers were doing when they took each other to secular courts. It was a terrible look!
A Public Disgrace
Paul is stunned by the Corinthians’ behavior. They were taking legal disputes against fellow Christians to the pagan Roman courts. For Paul, this wasn't just a procedural issue; it was a fundamental betrayal of what it meant to be the church, God's new community.
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Paul flips the script, reminding the Corinthians that believers aren't just recipients of justice, but agents of it. They have a unique authority that secular courts lack.
A Glimpse of Future Authority
Paul’s argument in the surrounding verses (1 Corinthians 6:1-6) hinges on the incredible reality that believers are destined to judge the world, and even angels. This isn't about human arrogance, but about the authority God entrusts to His redeemed people.
Understand the original words
pragma · Greek Noun
A formal complaint or legal claim brought by one person against another, often implying an injury or wrongdoing that requires arbitration.
adikos · Greek Adjective/Noun
An unbeliever; someone who does not possess the righteousness of Christ or is alienated from God's holy standard. In this context, it refers to those outside the body of Christ.
hagios · Greek Adjective/Noun
Those who are set apart for God; holy ones. It is a common designation for all true believers in Christ who are sanctified by His grace and Spirit.
krinō · Greek Verb
To govern, discern, or render a judicial decision. Biblically, it includes the future role of believers in exercising authority alongside Christ over the world and spiritual powers.
anaxios · Greek Adjective
Unqualified or unable to render a sound judgment due to a lack of spiritual discernment or maturity.
The Corinthian church, a diverse mix of backgrounds living within the Roman Empire, faced internal disputes. Paul's letter challenges them to resolve conflicts amongst believers according to spiritual principles, rather than resorting to the secular Roman legal system.
c. AD 44-49
Apollos Preaches in Corinth
A learned Jew named Apollos arrives in Corinth, powerfully and accurately teaching about Jesus, though initially only knowing about John's baptism.
c. AD 49-50
Paul Founds the Corinthian Church
The Apostle Paul spends about 18 months in Corinth, establishing the church and laying the foundation of the faith for its members.
c. AD 50
Aquila and Priscilla Join Paul
Phoebe's relatives, Aquila and Priscilla, Jewish Christians exiled from Rome, join Paul's ministry in Corinth. They later become key figures in the early church.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians from Ephesus
While in Ephesus, Paul receives troubling reports about divisions, immorality, and doctrinal issues within the Corinthian church. He writes this letter to address these problems.
c. AD 55
Corinthian Christians Appeal to Paul
The church in Corinth sends a delegation to Paul, likely bringing questions and reporting on the disunity and disputes plaguing their community.
This passage outlines Jesus' clear instructions for resolving disputes within the community, emphasizing internal reconciliation before seeking external judgment.
1 Corinthians 6:1-6Paul directly addresses the Corinthians' tendency to take fellow believers to secular courts, highlighting the shame this brings to the community and the church's higher calling to judge matters internally.
Colossians 3:12-14This passage calls believers to 'bear with each other and, if one person has a complaint against another, forgive' and to clothe themselves in love, providing the heart attitude needed for resolving disputes peaceably.
Romans 12:17-19Paul encourages believers not to repay evil for evil but to live peaceably with all, showing that the ideal response to wrongdoing is not legal action but a commitment to peaceful coexistence and leaving vengeance to God.
This verse isn't just about avoiding secular courts; it highlights a profound disconnect: going to unrighteous judges when you have a case against a saint (a believer) reveals a serious lack of trust in the community of faith to handle matters justly. The question is less about the act of legal recourse and more about the shame of needing outside, worldly judgment when God's people should be capable of resolving disputes internally.
Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, a city known for its immorality and division. Earlier, he's been dealing with serious issues like sexual sin within the community, and now he's tackling disputes between believers. This question arises as he criticizes them for taking their disagreements to secular, pagan courts, essentially airing their dirty laundry in front of those who don't know God, instead of resolving them internally according to God's principles.
Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, a city known for its immorality and division. Earlier, he's been dealing with serious issues like sexual sin within the community, and now he's tackling disputes between believers. This question arises as he criticizes them for taking their disagreements to secular, pagan courts, essentially airing their dirty laundry in front of those who don't know God, instead of resolving them internally according to God's principles.
"When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to…" — This verse isn't just about avoiding secular courts; it highlights a profound disconnect: going to unrighteous judges when you have a case against a saint (a believer) reveals a serious lack of t…
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