1 Corinthians 6:6-7
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What's striking here is the astonishment in Paul's question. He's not just pointing out a problem; he's aghast that believers would air their disputes in public, in front of people who don't even know God. It reveals that the very act of going to secular courts, rather than resolving things internally, was a scandal among the early church.
but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing ongoing divisions and disputes within the Corinthian church, where members are suing each other in secular courts. He’s just pointed out that believers are called to a higher standard of justice and peace, not to be judged by worldly standards. This verse highlights the shameful reality of Christians taking their internal conflicts to non-believers, undermining the church’s testimony.
Imagine the church as a family. What happens when family members drag each other into public, secular courts? Paul sees this as a serious issue.
Paul is addressing a deeply embarrassing situation in the Corinthian church. Instead of resolving disagreements internally, believers were taking each other to court, exposing their conflicts to the 'unbelievers'—those outside the faith.
This wasn't just about legal squabbles; it was about the church's witness. When Christians act like the world, suing each other publicly, it undermines the gospel and gives non-believers reason to scoff at the faith. It suggests that the transformative power of Christ isn't effective even among His own followers.
Why would believers need a different way to handle disputes? Paul points to a higher standard available to them.
The core issue Paul is getting at is that believers have access to a different kind of wisdom and justice through Christ. They possess the Spirit and are called to live by heavenly principles, not earthly ones.
Taking each other to court before non-believers implies that the church lacks the internal capacity or the spiritual resources to resolve issues. It suggests a failure to trust God's system of justice and reconciliation that is meant to operate within the community of faith. Paul will go on to suggest that believers are capable of judging 'even in the smallest matters' among themselves, let alone disputes that would lead them to secular courts.
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adelphos · Greek Noun
A fellow member of the family of God, sharing a spiritual bond through faith in Jesus Christ, implying mutual love, responsibility, and equality.
apistos · Greek Noun/Adjective
Those who do not have faith in God or the gospel of Jesus Christ, remaining outside the covenant community of the church.
hēttēma · Greek Noun
A failure to live up to the standard of Christ or a spiritual loss; in this context, it refers to the loss of Christian witness and the failure to demonstrate the love and humility of the Kingdom.
adikeō · Greek Verb
To endure harm, injustice, or mistreatment without retaliating, reflecting the character of Christ who suffered for righteousness.
apostereō · Greek Verb
To be deprived of something rightfully owned or to be cheated; biblically, it emphasizes the importance of valuing brotherly peace over material gain.
The Corinthian church was a mix of people from different backgrounds, and as disputes arose, some believers took fellow Christians to court before pagan judges, severely damaging the church's witness.
c. AD 49-50
Paul Founds the Church in Corinth
The Apostle Paul establishes a Christian community in the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Corinth.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
While at Ephesus, Paul learns of divisions and problems within the Corinthian church and writes this letter to address them.
c. AD 57
Paul's Second Visit to Corinth
Paul makes a brief, sorrowful visit to Corinth, which likely reinforces his concerns about the church's ongoing issues.
c. AD 57-58
Paul Writes 2 Corinthians
Paul writes a more severe letter (now lost) and then a gentler letter (2 Corinthians) as he continues to grapple with the church's response to his previous instructions.
Jesus provides a clear process for resolving disputes within the community, emphasizing internal reconciliation before involving outsiders.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13Paul addresses divisions within the Corinthian church, urging them to be of the same mind and avoid factions, which relates to the disunity implied by taking fellow believers to court.
1 Timothy 5:13This passage warns against busybodies and gossips who spread rumors, indirectly touching on the kind of interpersonal conflicts that might lead to legal disputes.
Romans 12:17-18Paul instructs believers to 'live peaceably with all' and avoid repaying evil for evil, a stark contrast to the adversarial nature of lawsuits.
What's striking here is the astonishment in Paul's question. He's not just pointing out a problem; he's aghast that believers would air their disputes in public, in front of people who don't even know God. It reveals that the very act of going to secular courts, rather than resolving things internally, was a scandal among the early church.
Paul is addressing ongoing divisions and disputes within the Corinthian church, where members are suing each other in secular courts. He’s just pointed out that believers are called to a higher standard of justice and peace, not to be judged by worldly standards. This verse highlights the shameful reality of Christians taking their internal conflicts to non-believers, undermining the church’s testimony.
Paul is addressing ongoing divisions and disputes within the Corinthian church, where members are suing each other in secular courts. He’s just pointed out that believers are called to a higher standard of justice and peace, not to be judged by worldly standards. This verse highlights the shameful reality of Christians taking their internal conflicts to non-believers, undermining the church’s testimony.
"but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?" — What's striking here is the astonishment in Paul's question. He's not just pointing out a problem; he's aghast that believers would air their disputes in public, in front of people who don't even k…
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Last reviewed October 2026
