1If any of you have a dispute with another, how dare you to go to law before the ungodly, and not take it before the saints (the church)?
2Or do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you unable to adjudicate the most trivial matters?
3Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more the disputes of this life?
4If you have disputes about trivial matters of this life, why do you seek a ruling from those who are least esteemed by the church.
5I say this to your shame. Is it possible that there is not a man among you, who is capable of judging between believers?
6But instead, one believer takes another believer to court, in front of unbelievers.
7The very fact that you have lawsuits among believers shows that you are not applying Christ’s teaching to your daily life. Why not just gracefully accept an injustice and leave it at that?
8But instead, you engage in cheating – and even against fellow believers.
9Do you not know that the wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not fool yourselves: those who indulge in sexual immorality, idol worship, adultery, or homosexual behavior will never inherit the kingdom of God.
10Nor will thieves, the greedy or covetous people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers ever inherit the kingdom of God.
11And that is what some of you were; but now you were washed, sanctified, and are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
12All things (that are not explicitly forbidden) are lawful to me, but not everything is helpful or beneficial; and even those that are lawful for me, I will not allow them to exercise power or control over me.
13You may say, ’Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food’; this is true, but one day God shall do away with them both. And you cannot say that the body was intended for fornication (sexual immorality or promiscuity), but for the Lord; and the Lord cares for our bodies.
14And God, Who has raised up the Lord, will also raise us up by His power.
15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ, Himself? Shall I, then, take the members of Christ, and unite them with the members of a harlot? Never! (God forbid.)
16Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot (prostitute) is one with her in body? ‘For two’, said He, ‘shall be one flesh’ (Gen. 2:24).
17But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
18Flee (run from) fornication (sexual promiscuity). All other sins that a man does are committed outside of the body; but whoever commits fornication (sexual immorality) sins against his own body.
19Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within you, Whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own?
20For you were bought at a price; therefore, honor God with your bodies. What Paul is saying here is that, as a Christian living under grace, and no longer under the law of Moses, he (and all Christians) now have liberty - freedom from the law – a liberty Paul had never known, growing up as a Pharisee, under the tutelage of Gamaliel, (Acts 22:3). He well knew the strict prohibitions of the law that the Pharisees, especially, observed; but now, as a convert and follower of Christ, Paul knew and appreciated the privilege and freedom of living under the grace that was afforded him by the Lord through Jesus Christ. But he also knew that, as a Christian, there were weightier considerations than his exercising of that liberty – and that liberty should be tempered by concern that his liberty not become a stumbling block to other believers. Evidently, the Corinthians had grasped and cheerfully embraced the concept of God’s grace; and not feeling constrained by the Mosaic Law, that was not part of their cultural background, they gladly exploited – and misused - this liberty that God’s grace afforded – especially in the area of sexual misconduct – and without considering its impact upon their Christian witness. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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