1 Corinthians 6:7-8
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The surprising part here isn't just that lawsuits are bad, but that any lawsuit at all is considered a loss, a defeat. Paul isn't saying "avoid lawsuits if you can," he's saying the very act of suing a fellow believer reveals a fundamental failure in how they're living out their faith together.
To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Apostle Paul is addressing divisions and un-Christlike behavior within the Corinthian church. He’s just rebuked them for taking fellow believers to pagan courts, a practice that contradicts their identity in Christ and damages their witness. Immediately following this, Paul will continue to challenge their understanding of their new life in Christ, moving from lawsuits to other areas of sin and spiritual maturity.
Paul drops a bombshell here: taking a fellow believer to court isn't a sign of winning your case, but a sign of losing the spiritual battle. What does this really mean for us?
The Unthinkable Choice
Paul is direct: the very act of suing a fellow Christian is a loss. It's not about who's right or wrong in the earthly dispute, but about the damage done to the community and the testimony of Christ.
Why Such a Harsh Verdict?
Paul doesn't just point out the problem; he offers a radical alternative: 'Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?' This isn't passive resignation, but active trust.
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The Power of Forbearance
Choosing to suffer wrong isn't about being a doormat. It's a profound act of spiritual discipline and faith. It means:
The Cost and the Crown
While suffering wrong might feel like a loss in the moment, Paul implies it's a spiritual victory. It builds character, strengthens faith, and honors God, often in ways that winning a lawsuit cannot.
Understand the original words
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 church in Corinth was a new and diverse community struggling to live out their new faith amidst a Greco-Roman culture accustomed to legal disputes and social hierarchies, making Paul's instruction to avoid lawsuits a radical call to a different way of life.
c. AD 49-50
Council of Jerusalem
A major dispute arose within the early church regarding the need for Gentile believers to adhere to Jewish Law. The council's decision clarified that salvation was through faith in Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
The Apostle Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth, establishing the church and teaching them the foundational principles of the Christian faith. This was a vibrant, but also notoriously immoral and culturally diverse city.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians
Written from Ephesus, this letter addresses numerous issues within the Corinthian church, including divisions, immorality, and disputes over spiritual gifts. This verse speaks directly to the litigiousness Paul observed.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment and Writings
Paul was imprisoned in Rome, a period during which he wrote several epistles, including Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. His letters continued to guide and instruct the churches.
Jesus directly teaches turning the other cheek and going the extra mile, illustrating the attitude of non-retaliation Paul is championing here.
Romans 12:17-21This passage expands on the idea of not repaying evil with evil, urging believers to overcome evil with good, which is the spirit behind Paul's question.
1 Peter 2:19-20Peter addresses suffering injustice, explaining that enduring hardship unjustly endured is commendable before God, echoing Paul's challenge to suffer wrong.
Philippians 2:3-4This passage calls believers to humility, considering others better than themselves and looking out for the interests of others, which would naturally prevent lawsuits.
The surprising part here isn't just that lawsuits are bad, but that any lawsuit at all is considered a loss, a defeat. Paul isn't saying "avoid lawsuits if you can," he's saying the very act of suing a fellow believer reveals a fundamental failure in how they're living out their faith together.
The Apostle Paul is addressing divisions and un-Christlike behavior within the Corinthian church. He’s just rebuked them for taking fellow believers to pagan courts, a practice that contradicts their identity in Christ and damages their witness. Immediately following this, Paul will continue to challenge their understanding of their new life in Christ, moving from lawsuits to other areas of sin and spiritual maturity.
The Apostle Paul is addressing divisions and un-Christlike behavior within the Corinthian church. He’s just rebuked them for taking fellow believers to pagan courts, a practice that contradicts their identity in Christ and damages their witness. Immediately following this, Paul will continue to challenge their understanding of their new life in Christ, moving from lawsuits to other areas of sin and spiritual maturity.
"To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!" — The surprising part here isn't just that lawsuits are bad, but that any lawsuit at all is considered a loss, a defeat. Paul isn't saying "avoid lawsuits if you can," he's saying the very act of sui…
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Last reviewed October 2026
