X² u 1. Litigation.
v 2-4. Remonstrance. "Know you not?"
u 5-7-. Litigation.
v -7-11. Remonstrance. "Know you not?"
1 Corinthians 6)
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against the other, go to law (lit. be judged) before the unjust (see Acts 24:15), and not before the saints? (See Acts 26:10. In many cases, our courts of law are unjust. This has to do with matters that arise between God's saints, that is to say His elect. Paul is encouraging the elect to be courageous, and stand up to do what is right, rather than taking matters of dispute before the courts of injustice.)
2 Know you not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (The elect should be able to work out matters of dispute that probably don't amount to anything, rather than ending up in a court where both parties are likely going to lose. The only ones who are going to profit from that are the lawyers.)
3 Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are counted as nothing in the church. (See Acts 4:11. It would be better to select someone from the church to hear the dispute and make it fair, and impartial decision, than to take the dispute to a court of law.)
5 I speak to your shame. Has it come to this, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge in the midst of his brother? (Isn't there one among the whole congregation of the elect that can step forward with courage to do the right thing? Paul is trying to shame them into being bold.)
6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (Anyone that thinks they will get justice from the heathen isn't thinking clearly. They have no conscience.)
7 Now therefore there is altogether a fault among you, because you go to law one with another.
Why do you not rather suffer unjustly? (see Acts 7:24) why do you not rather be defrauded? (Mark 10:19. 1 Tim. 6:5. Jas. 5:4. You probably wouldn't lose as much, even if you received an unfavorable decision from a Christian arbitrator as you would lose, if you win in a court of law. You are not going to find justice in a heathen court. When things get a little rough, find the courage to stand up and do the right thing. Be bold.)
8 But, you act unjustly, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived (see 15:33. Gal. 6:7. James 1:16): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves (see John 10:1), nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but you are washed (co. John 13:10), but you are sanctified (see John 17:17), but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.
X³ w¹ 12,13-. General principals.
x¹ -13,14. Application.
w² 15-17. Remonstrance. "Know you not?"
x² 18. Purgation.
w³ 19,20. Remonstrance. "Know you not?"
12 All things are lawful to me, but not all things are not profitable (cp. John 11:50; 16:7. Acts 20:20): all things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power (authority) by any.
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to naught both it and them. (See Acts Rom. 3:5)
Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
14 And God both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us (cp. Rom. 9:17) through His own power. (2 Cor. 13:4. Eph. 1:19,21)
15 Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (See Rom. 3:4)
16 Or, know you not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, says He, shall be into one flesh. (Quoted from Gen. 2:24. Cp. Matt. 19:5, where the same idiom occurs.)
17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every (i.e. every other) sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.
19 What? know you not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.