Don’t Sue the Brethren
January 5, 2020
Commentary
In this chapter Paul shifts to another problem within the Corinthian church. The same failure of dealing with the immoral brother was also found in cases of lawsuits between church members. It is evident that Paul is disturbed and can hardly believe that members of the Corinthian church are bringing lawsuits against each other. See John 5:22 and Revelation 3:21 for more on judging the world. He says this is a tragedy for at least three reasons:
1. The believers were presenting a poor testimony to the unsaved community (vv. 2, 6).
2. They were asking pagan judges to settle problems that they ought to be able to settle with the Lord’s wisdom (vv. 3-4).
3. It was a no-win situation, as the members suing each other had already lost. Even if some of them won, they had created a far greater loss in their disobedience to the Word of God.
There were some in the Corinthian church who had professed Christianity as a system of doctrine, but not as a rule of life. Paul reminds them that they have been bought with a price (the precious blood of Christ) and set apart to do God’s special work. In such an exalted position, it seems incredible that they would go before an inferior human court to arbitrate their disputes (v. 11). This is a grim commentary on the wicked civilization in which the Corinthian Church was growing up. The proof of Christianity is in the power of the gospel.
Application
God expects his followers in any age to have high standards. I should periodically review a list of the Biblical standards that I have for myself and discuss them with my family.
1 Corinthians 6:1– 11 (NET)
1 When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters! 4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? 6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers? 7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 But you yourselves wrong and cheat, and you do this to your brothers and sisters!
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, 10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.