1 Corinthians 6:1 - Meaning and Application

Here the apostle rebukes them for taking one another to court before pagan judges over small matters. In doing so, he also condemns all needless and annoying lawsuits. In the previous chapter, he told them to deal with serious sins among themselves through church discipline. Here he tells them to settle disputes through church counsel and wise advice.

The first fault he points out is that one brother went to law against another, one church member against another. Their close relationship should have kept peace between them, but it did not. Brotherly love had been broken. As Solomon says, an offended brother is harder to win back than a strong city, and quarrels are like the bars of a castle (Proverbs 18:19). Christians should not fight one another, because they are brothers. If this were remembered, it would prevent many lawsuits and end many quarrels.

He also blames them for bringing the matter before heathen magistrates, before unbelievers, instead of before the saints (1 Corinthians 6:1, 6). They did not settle it among themselves, though they were Christians and saints in name at least. This brought shame on Christianity. It showed both their foolishness and their lack of peace, even though they claimed to follow the Lamb, the meek and lowly Jesus, the prince of peace. So Paul says, in effect, “How can any of you dare to take a dispute to court before the unjust?” Christians should not dare to do anything that brings shame on their Christian name.

There is also the hint that they were suing over matters of little value. Paul blames them for not being willing to suffer wrong rather than go to law (1 Corinthians 6:7), and that must mean matters that were not very serious. If we suffer serious damage to ourselves or our families, we may use lawful means to defend our rights. We are not required to accept injury without seeking relief. But in small matters, it is better to endure the wrong. Christians should have a forgiving spirit. It is more fitting, and often more honorable, to bear small losses than to act quarrelsome.

Paul then shows how serious their fault was. “Do you not know,” he asks, “that the saints will judge the world, and that they will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). How then can they be unworthy to judge the smallest matters, the things of this life? It was a disgrace to their Christian calling that they carried minor disputes before unbelieving judges. If they are to judge the world, it is strange that they cannot settle small disagreements among themselves.

Some understand “judge the world” and “judge angels” to mean that believers will sit with Christ in the final judgment. Jesus said his disciples would sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Jude also speaks of the Lord coming with his saints to judge (Jude 1:14-15), and Paul says he will come with all his saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Believers will themselves be judged first, as in Matthew 25:31-41, but then they may be openly cleared and honored, sharing in the approval of Christ’s righteous judgment on men and angels. In no other sense can they be judges. They are not equal partners in Christ’s office, but they will be honored to stand by and approve his judgment.

Others have taken this to mean that the world becomes Christian and is then judged by Christian rulers, or that believers condemn the world by their faith and cast out evil spirits by miraculous power. But that seems less natural here. Paul’s point is strongest if he is speaking of believers sharing in Christ’s judgment at the last day. If Christians are to sit with the righteous Judge when he judges sinful people and evil angels, how can they not settle the small disputes that trouble them now? Why should they bring such matters before unbelievers?

Some read the passage as saying that the magistrates were of no account in the church, people treated as nothing (1 Corinthians 6:4). If so, Paul’s point is sharp: must those who are of little worth in the church be called in to decide your disputes? Others take it as an ironical suggestion, meaning, “If you must have a judge, choose the least esteemed among yourselves.” Even the humblest believer, Paul says, ought to be able to settle these matters. They are not worth fighting over before pagan courts, and if Christians would only bring their spirits under control, such quarrels could be ended easily. Bear with one another, and even those with the least skill could help make peace. Paul says this to their shame (1 Corinthians 6:5). It is a shame when small quarrels among Christians grow so large that even brothers cannot settle them by wise agreement.

Paul then points them to a remedy. First, disputes should be referred to someone who can help settle them. “Is there no wise person among you, no one able to judge between his brothers?” (1 Corinthians 6:5). They prided themselves on wisdom and knowledge, and they boasted of extraordinary gifts, yet was there no one among them fit for this work? Must brothers quarrel, and must unbelieving judges decide the matter, in a church so known for knowledge and wisdom? It was a disgrace that their conflicts had gone so far and that none of their wise people stepped in to stop them. Christians should never rush into lawsuits until every other remedy has failed. Wise believers should stop disputes if they can, and courts should not be the first answer, especially for matters of little importance.

By choosing to suffer wrong instead of using this kind of legal fight to defend themselves: It is always wrong among you to go to court over this matter. In fact, it is usually wrong for one side to bring a lawsuit, unless the ownership is truly uncertain and both sides agree to let people learned in the law decide it. Even then, that is more a matter of settling the issue than fighting over it, and that seems to be what the apostle is mainly condemning here.

Should you not rather accept being wronged, rather than allow yourselves to be cheated? A Christian should rather endure a small loss than stir up trouble and upset others through a legal quarrel. The peace of his own mind and the peace of the people around him are worth more than winning such a case or recovering his full rights, especially when the case must be judged by people who oppose religion.

But the apostle says they were not only unwilling to endure injury, they were actually doing wrong and cheating, and doing it to their own brothers and sisters in Christ. It is always wrong to cheat or harm anyone, but it is even worse to do it to fellow Christians. The bonds of shared love should be stronger among believers than among others. Love does no harm to a neighbor (Romans 13:10). Those who truly love the Christian family can never, while ruled by that love, hurt or injure them.