The saints shall judge the world? - Nothing can be more evident than that the writers of the New Testament often use ὁ κοσμος, the world, to signify the Jewish people; and sometimes the Roman empire, and the Jewish state; and in the former sense it is often used by our Lord. When, says he, the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, then shall ye sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Matthew 19:28. It is supposed that he refers to the same subject as that mentioned here - the saints judging the world; and that St. Paul has his words in view in what he says here to the Corinthians. By judging the twelve tribes of Israel, some have imagined that having authority in the Church is merely intended; but Dr. Lightfoot contends that the words referred to the coming of our Lord to execute judgment on the Jews, and to destroy their state; and that the doctrine of the apostles, not themselves, was to judge and condemn that most disobedient people. The place before us is generally understood to imply, that the redeemed of the Lord shall be, on the great day, assessors with him in judgment; and shall give their award in the determinations of his justice. On reviewing this subject, I am fully of opinion that this cannot be the meaning of the words, and that no such assessorship as is contended for ever will take place; and that the interpretation is clogged with a multitude of absurdities.

1. The saints themselves are to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall be judged by him, after which they shall reign with him; but it is never said in Scripture that they shall judge with him.

2. It would be absurd to suppose that thrones should be erected for the purpose of saints sitting on them to give their approbation in the condemnation of the wicked; of what use can such an approbation be? is it necessary to the validity of Christ's decision? and will not even the damned themselves, without this, acknowledge the justice of their doom? I therefore think with Dr. Lightfoot, that these words of the apostle refer to the prediction of Daniel, Daniel 7:18, Daniel 7:27, and such like prophecies, where the kingdoms of the earth are promised to the saints of the Most High; that is, that a time shall come when Christianity shall so far prevail that the civil government of the world shall be administered by Christians, which, at that time, was administered by heathens. And this is even now true of all those parts of the earth which may be considered of the greatest political consequence. They profess Christianity, and the kings and other governors are Christians in this general sense of the term.

the saints.

Psalm 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning...

Psalm 149:5-9 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud on their beds...

Daniel 7:18,22 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever...

Zechariah 14:5 And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal: yes, you shall flee...

Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me...

Luke 22:30 That you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father...

Jude 1:14,15 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints...

Revelation 2:26,27 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations...

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them...

the smallest.

1 Corinthians 6:4 If then you have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal...

1 John 2:16,17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father...

"Therefore, Brethren, we are Debtors, not to the Flesh, to Live after the Flesh; for if Ye Live after the Flesh, Ye Shall Die,"
Rom. viii. s 12, 13.--"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh; for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die," &c. Was that not enough to contain men in obedience to God--the very essential bond of dependence upon God as the original and fountain of his being! And yet man hath cast away this cord from him, and withdrew from that allegiance he did owe to his Maker, by transgressing his holy commandments. But God, not willing that all should perish, hath confirmed …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Thou Art Beautiful, O My Love, Sweet and Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an Army Set in Array.
The Bridegroom finding His bride entirely free from self, dissolved and prepared for the consummation of the marriage, and to be received into a state of permanent and lasting union with Himself, admires her beauty; He tells her that she is beautiful because He finds in her a certain charm and sweetness which approaches the divine. Thou art comely, He continues, as Jerusalem; for since thou hast lost everything of thine own to devote it wholly to Me, thou art adorned and embellished with all that …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

That Clerics be not Compelled to Give Testimony in Public Concerning the Cognizance of their Own Judgment.
That clerics be not compelled to give testimony in public concerning the cognizance of their own judgment. It should be petitioned also that they deign to decree, that if perchance any shall have been willing to plead their cause in any church according to the Apostolic law imposed upon the Churches, and it happens that the decision of the clergy does not satisfy one of the parties, it be not lawful to summon that clergyman who had been cognitor or present, [459] into judgment as a witness, and that …
Philip Schaff—The Seven Ecumenical Councils