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1 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 6 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

1 Corinthians 6 addresses two major areas of Christian life: how believers handle conflict and how they use their bodies. Paul calls the church to wiser, humbler ways of dealing with disputes and to a clear view of holiness, identity, and self-control before God.

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What happens in 1 Corinthians 6?

Paul first rebukes believers who take one another to court before unbelievers. He urges them to handle ordinary disputes within the church, since those who belong to Christ will one day judge the world and even angels. He then warns that those trapped in unrighteous patterns will not inherit God's kingdom, while also reminding the Corinthians that some of them have been changed by Christ. The chapter closes with a strong call to flee sexual immorality, because the body belongs to the Lord, is joined to Christ, and is a temple of the Holy Spirit.

This chapter follows Paul's correction of church discipline in chapter 5 and continues his concern for the health of the Corinthian church. Here he moves from public conflict to personal holiness, showing that the gospel shapes both community life and private conduct.

Themes to notice

  • Church disputesBelievers are called to seek wise, godly help within the church rather than shameful public conflict.
  • New identityChrist changes former patterns of sin and gives a new standing through washing, sanctifying, and justifying.
  • Body and holinessBecause believers belong to Christ and have the Spirit, they are to honor God with their bodies.

Questions for 1 Corinthians 6

  • Why does Paul think it is better for believers to settle disagreements within the church?
  • How does Paul connect a Christian's identity in Christ with moral change?
  • What does it mean in practice to glorify God with your body?

Read the full text of 1 Corinthians 6 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

1 Corinthians 6

Lawsuits among Believers

1If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!4So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church?5I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?6Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?8Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!

Members of Christ

9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.11And that is what some of you were. 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.

12“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.13“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.14By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!16Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.

The Temple of the Holy Spirit

18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

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