1 Corinthians

Litigation between believers. 6:1-11

 
Introduction

Paul now turns his attention to another problem evident in the Corinthian congregation. A member has defrauded a fellow member, who in turn has taken the matter to the civil courts. Through statements of horror, rhetorical questions, threats and sarcasm, Paul condemns the church and the two members. Immorality in the church must be confronted and dealt with, and certainly should not be taken to the civil authorities, as such action both trivializes the nature of the church (the saints will someday judge the world).

 
The passage

v1. Paul opens with a rhetorical question expressing shock. Would a believer dare, having a legal case against another believer, litigate their complaint before an unbelieving ("ungodly" = pagan) judge.

v2. Given that the "saints" (here all believers rather than Jewish believers) will somehow be involved with Christ in his eternal reign (cf. Dan.7:22), they should not find it difficult to handle "trivial" matters in the present.

v3-4. In eternity believers will administer ("judge") the angelic community. This being the case, believers should be able to easily handle everyday affairs. "In light of our existence in Christ and our participation in the eschatological judgments, how can one care about such trifling matters in the first place, and in any case, how can one bring them before those who have no standing in the church and therefore will not share in those judgments?", Gordon Fee.

v5. It is to the shame of the church that the Corinthians can't find someone wise enough to arbitrate on a dispute between brothers.

v6. The church has allowed members to air their dirty linen before unbelievers, and such is a disgrace.

v7. Paul now turns his attention specifically to the litigants, while including the whole church in his admonition. The wronged litigant should have chosen the path of nonretaliation. "Whether you win or lose, the action itself is already a loss. For even if you win, you lose by not being able to endure injury, and the church loses by your action before the public tribunal", Gordon Fee.

v8. As for the offender, Paul warns him (and the church) that such action undermines his standing as a believer. The action of defrauding a brother makes the church member no different to the pagans who surround the church. Not only is it shameful, but it cannot be tolerated in the Christian fellowship.

 

 

v9-10. The offender needs to understand, as does the church, that to persist in the same evils as the "wicked" is to face the danger of the same judgement, namely to "not inherit the kingdom of God." The warning is real, although its intent is not to condemn, but prompt repentance. Paul defines the "wicked" in terms of ten common societal sins.

v11. The litigants once stood with the "wicked", but in Christ they are something different, therefore live like it. The imperative "be what you are" is implied in this verse. They are new people in Christ, therefore be new people. Their change came about when they were: i] "washed", cleansed of their sins, forgiven; ii] "sanctified", set apart for God, holy in his sight; iii] "justified", set right with God. The instrument of their newness is "the Lord Jesus Christ", his substitutionary dying and rising, and also "the Spirit of our God", his indwelling compelling work of renewal.

 
What some of you were

Three particular issues emerge from this passage which deserve our consideration:

1. Paul is annoyed that the believers in Corinth have failed to think eschatologically. Their actions in the present show that they have little thought for the future. Thinking Christianly involves reasoning about the present in the light of eternity. Such a perspective often produces outcomes contrary to worldly pragmatics. In particular, their thinking and thus their behavior, has diminished the substantial nature of Christ's eschatological (last-days) community.

2. Paul is also annoyed that the behavior of the believers in Corinth has undermined the eschatological nature of the church before unbelievers. By litigating minor disputes in the secular courts the Corinthians were undermining the work of the gospel.

We probably do need to make the comment that dealing with some issues in-house can have the same negative results. On the matter of pederasty, the institutional church has had to face the justifiable wrath of the wider community for trying to sweep it under the carpet.

3. The transforming and empowering work of the Spirit for those under the grace of God does not sit easily with behavior that aligns more with the powers of darkness. Although we are saved by grace, what we were cannot be what we are now without us facing the danger of judgement.

 
Discussion

Consider the above three points and discuss.

 
 
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