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1 Corinthians Chapter Six

                             

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Principles in the Church Life

A.  Believers should not go to law against one another in the church (v.1-8):

1.    Brother should not go to law against another before the Gentiles who do not believe the Lord (v.1-6).

2.    It is utterly wrong that brothers go to law against another (v.7-8).

B.  The unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God (v.9-11):

C.  Believers should glorify God in their bodies (v.12-20):

1.    The bodies of believers are for the Lord (v.12-14).

2.    The bodies of believers are members of Christ (v.15-17).

3.    The bodies of believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.18-20).

 

II. Verse by Verse Commentary

 

1Cor. 6:1 “Dare any of you having a matter against another go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?”

   YLT: “Dare any one of you having a matter with the other go to be judged before the unrighteous and not before the saints?”

Literal Meaning: “any of you …having a matter against another” “any of you”: among believers in the church at Corinth. “Against another” we can know from the following scriptures that they go to law against another.

“Dare … go to law before the unrighteous” “dare” it suggests that it is presumptuous of believers in the church at Corinth to do in this way for they have gone against the principles of Christians’ life. “The unrighteous” refer to the Gentiles who do not believe the Lord (see 2Thess. 2:12). “Go to law” it means taking someone to court.

“And not before the saints” “go to law before the saints” it means dealing with the cases inside the church according to the principles and steps declared by the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew chapter eighteen (see Matt. 18:15-20).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If there are many quarrels in a group of the world it shows that there are many sins in that group. Likewise if there is a lot of strife in the church it must be because that they have much unrighteousness. Confliction and unrighteousness are always reciprocal causation.

2)    Many Christians are nearsighted spiritually. They see only the fame and benefit at present but ignore the judgment that we shall face in the future. They care for their personal gain and loss without considering that of the Lord and the church. They have only seen physical benefit but have not seen spiritual gain or loss. 

 

1Cor. 6:2 “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ”

   YLT: “have ye not known that the saints shall judge the world? and if by you the world is judged are ye unworthy of the smaller judgments?”

Literal Meaning: “do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” ---- “Will judge” it will happen in the future. When the saints in the world if they are faithful over a few things they will rule over many things in the coming age (see Matt. 25:21 23). “Judge the world” it is one of the many things that we will rule over.

“And if the world will be judged by you are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” ---- Here “the world” is contrast to “the smallest matters” showing that since believers have such great power of judging such big world they can certainly judge such small things among believers.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    “Do you not know that…” it shows that they can know but cannot do. These are all mistakes easily made by Christians ---- one violates something knowingly; one’s doing is against his knowing; and the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (see Matt. 26:41).

2)    That we believers judge sins and condemn what should be judged and do not disguise sins are practices and preparations for the judgment of the world in the future.

3)    No matter how great the things that believers dispute they are “the smallest things” in the eyes of spiritual ones. He who is carnal often magnifies things as small as pinpoints. However he who is spiritual often minimizes the problems.

 

1Cor. 6:3 “Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? ”

   YLT: “have ye not known that we shall judge messengers? why not then the things of life?”

Literal Meaning: “do you not know that we shall judge angels?” ---- The Scriptures have clearly declared that if angels have sinned they should be judged in the future (see 2Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). What is really amazing is that in the counsel of God He does not personally judge the angels that sinned but gives the power of judgment on angels to believers. What a great honor to us! What a shame to angels that sinned!

“How much more things that pertain to this life”? ---- “Things that pertain to this life” refer to judging believers. Here it is contrast to the judgment on angels for the latter one is things pertaining to the future.

 

1Cor. 6:4 “If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?”

   YLT: “of the things of life indeed then if ye may have judgment those despised in the assembly -- these cause ye to sit;”

Literal Meaning: “if then”: since believers have the power of judging things pertaining to this life.

“You have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life” “things pertaining to this life” refer to things that can not be taken to the future and worldly as well as physical things e.g. disputes over property conflicts over fame and gain disagreements on doings and etc.

“Do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?” ---- “Those who are least esteemed by the church” there are two different kinds of interpretations:

1)    According to the context it refers to the Gentiles who do not believe the Lord (see v.1 6). They are contrast to believers who have the power of judging things pertaining to this life. Moreover since men in the world knows the wisdom of the world only they are least esteemed by believers who seek true wisdom (see 1Cor. 2:6-8).

2)    It refers to believers who lack wisdom and are not famous. Therefore Paul then suggests that they should choose a wise man to judge (see v.5). However this interpretation appears to be a little abrupt for the meaning of Paul’s words here is coherent ---- he condemns them for having gone to law before the unrighteous not before believers. And Paul will not call believers those “who are least esteemed”.

 

1Cor. 6:5 “I say this to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you not even one who will be able to judge between his brethren? ”

   YLT: “unto your shame I speak: so there is not among you one wise man not even one who shall be able to discern in the midst of his brethren!”

Literal Meaning: “I say this to your shame” it means that Paul points out their sin so as to make them ashamed.

“Is it so that there is not a wise man among you not even one who will be able to judge between his brethren?” ---- It carries a sarcastic tone for they have been puffed up and think they have wisdom (see 1Cor. 3:18).

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    The church has not only the responsibility of shepherding and teaching but also that of government and judgment.

2)    The Lord Jesus asks His servants to be not only faithful (see 1Cor. 4:2) but also prudent (see Matt. 24:45). The servants of the Lord should practice setting over his household in the house of God today ---- namely making judgments among brothers well ---- so that we shall govern greater and more things in the future (see Matt. 24:45-47).

 

1Cor. 6:6 “But brother goes to law against brother and that before unbelievers!”

   YLT: “but brother with brother doth go to be judged and this before unbelievers!”

Literal Meaning: “but brother goes to law against brother” “but” it shows that believers should not go to law against brother in normal condition.

“And that before unbelievers” they have shown themselves before those who do not believe the Lord. It is an unbearable shame to those who love the testimony of Christ and the church.

“And that” it shows that they have made dual mistakes: firstly it is a severe mistake (see v.7) that brothers go to law against another for it indicates that there is problem with the spirit and the mind of the one who goes to law against another; secondly going to law against another has lowered the level of Christians to the degree of the Gentiles. How can we judge them in the future (see v.2)? Not to mention the judgment on angels (see v.3).

Controversial Clarification: Paul does not mean Christians should not seek the protection of the law of the nation or appeal to the higher court when being evil treated for Paul Himself had ever appealed unto Caesar so as to shelter him from the assassination by the extreme Jews (see Acts 25:1-3; 9-11). 

  What Paul condemned here was their condition: they were originally familiar with and known each other but became enemies against one another for trivial reasons. Moreover they strived to fight it out among them and would even claim justice to each other through the court of the world.

 

1Cor. 6:7 “Now therefore it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? ”

   YLT: “Already indeed then there is altogether a fault among you that ye have judgments with one another; wherefore do ye not rather suffer injustice? wherefore be ye not rather defrauded?”

Meaning of Words: “utter failure”: absolute failure complete failure extreme failure;

Literal Meaning: “for you that you go to law against one another” it means that one believer is in the face with another one in the law court.

“Now therefore it is already an utter failure” no matter they are right or wrong as long as they appeal to the higher court they have already made serious mistakes. 

“Why do you not rather accept wrong?” ---- “Rather”: to make decision after consideration and evaluation; “Accept wrong” be treated unfairly and unjustly by others; 

“Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” ---- “Be cheated”: be exploited by others and suffer loss;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    According to the “truth” if one brother has a matter against the other one he should not go to law against the other one before the Gentiles but before the saints who are respected in the church (see v.1-6). However according to “the Spirit of Christ” there should not be disputes among brothers at all or bring a lawsuit against another one. Instead brothers should be willing to “accept wrong” and “let ourselves be cheated”. This is the manifestation of Christ.

2)    If brothers bring lawsuits against another for the sake of the treasures on the earth it has disobeyed the last commandment of the Lord ---- “love one another” (John 13:34). Therefore it never pleases the Lord of arguing who is right. Only the one who is willing to accept wrong and let him be cheated pleases the Lord.

3)    One who truly loves the Lord cares for Christ in his heart and whether brothers and sisters have enjoyed Christ. He does not care about the controversy at all.

4)    Once there is legal action among brothers no matter who is right or who is wrong he who brings the lawsuit must have not focused on Christ or enjoyed Christ nor have experienced the cross of Christ.

5)    If one has fixed his eyes on the true spiritual and eternal blessings rather than the vain or physical or transient losses he can endure loss.

6)    He who wants to have peace with brothers should pay the cost namely be willing to accept wrong and let himself be cheated.

7)    Christians are willing to accept wrong and let us be cheated for they have different “values” from men in the world. The values of Christians are: the welfare of the Lord is more important that that of us and the spiritual welfare is more important than the worldly one and the eternal welfare is more important than that of this age.

8)    All that we believers have are received (see 1Cor. 4:7). We had nothing. And what we have now are obtained from the Lord and are of the gifts of the Lord. Even though others take advantage of us we actually have not suffered any loss. Therefore we should be rather let ourselves be cheated.

 

1Cor. 6:8 “No you yourselves do wrong and cheat and you do these things to your brethren!”

   YLT: “but ye -- ye do injustice and ye defraud and these -- brethren!”

Meaning of Words: “do wrong”: be unrighteous to; “cheat”: exploit;

Literal Meaning: “you yourselves do wrong and cheat” “do wrong” treat others wrongly with improper ways and force others to yield; “cheat” is to exploit others with deceitful ways so as to take advantage of others.

“And you do these things to your brethren” brothers should not do wrong to or cheat men not to mention brothers who are partakers of heavenly grace.

 

1Cor. 6:9 “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor sodomites ”

   YLT: “have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers nor idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor sodomites ”

The Background: at that time the city of Corinth was a big city. There was a temple that kept thousands of women of gods ---- who were invited apparently to dance to praise gods but actually they did the business of sexual immorality. Therefore the social atmosphere in Corinth was very corrupt. And the sexual immorality and idolatry prevailed there and were associated and mutually used. 

Literal Meaning: “do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” ---- “Will inherit” it means that when the Lord comes again the kingdom of God will be utterly fulfilled on the earth and believers will fully enjoy all the rights of the people of God.

  “Unrighteous” and “the kingdom of God” can not be mixed together. There will be only righteousness in the new heavens and the new earth in the future (see 2Pet. 3:13).

“Do not be deceived” it means that we should face the problems and adopt right actions.

“Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor sodomites” “fornicators” refer to improper sexual relationship; “idolaters” is often mentioned with fornication (see Rev. 2:20; 21:8; 22:15); “adulterers” refer to sexual relationship outside of marriage; “homosexuals “sodomites”:gays;

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Those who do sins no matter what kind of sin shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

2)    “Homosexuals and sodomites” are sins of homosexuality (see Rom. 1:26-27). Such sin like other sins can not inherit the kingdom of God or live out the kingdom of God. And God cannot reign on men who do these sins.

 

1Cor. 6:10 “nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

   YLT: “nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners the reign of God shall inherit.”

Literal Meaning: “thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners” “thieves”: steal the possessions of others secretly; “covetous…extortioners” these are mentioned in chapter five (see the commentary of chapter 5:11).

 

1Cor. 6:11 “And such were some of you. But you were washed but you were sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. ”

   YLT: “And certain of you were these! but ye were washed but ye were sanctified but ye were declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus and in the Spirit of our God.”

Literal Meaning: “and such were some of you” we believers were the same as men in the world before we were saved. Some of believers in the church at Corinth were very corrupt in the past. 

“But you …in the name of the Lord Jesus” the name represents the reality of a man. The name of the Lord is the Lord Himself. Therefore be in the name of the Lord is in the Lord Himself.

“And by the Spirit of our God” “the Spirit of our God” is the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 8:9). Believers obtain the washing of regeneration and renewal of Holy Spirit through the power of the Spirit and are sanctified (see 1Pet. 1:2) and justified (see 1Tim. 3:16).

“You were washed but you were sanctified but you were justified” “were justified…were washed but you were sanctified” the past perfect tense shows that we were washed and sanctified and justified “in the position” but not “in experience”. Believers were washed sanctified and justified in the position when we were saved ---- we had been washed by the blood without any trace of sin left and separated unto God and became saints (see 1Cor. 1:2) and justified by faith before God (see Rom. 5:1; 19). These are “accomplished” facts.

When sanctification and justification are mentioned together in the Scriptures justification is often mentioned before sanctification (see Rom. 6:19; 1Cor. 1:30; Rev. 22:11). According to the order of the truth justification (Rom. 5) is before sanctification (Rom. 6). Here sanctification is firstly mentioned. May be it is because it has something to do with the matter to which the context refers ---- believers in the church at Corinth neglect to keep the holiness of bodies. Therefore Paul here firstly relates to “sanctification”.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    We should not do anything that is unworthy of our position or tends to filth or unrighteousness.

2)    Though believers have been washed sanctified and justified in the position we should still seek to be washed sanctified and justified in our experience.

 

1Cor. 6:12 “All things are lawful for me but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any. ”

   YLT: “All things are lawful to me but all things are not profitable; all things are lawful to me but I -- I will not be under authority by any;”

Meaning of Words: “helpful”: be better for bring together be expedient (for) be good; “under the power”: exercise authority upon control;

Literal Meaning: “all things are lawful for me” at that time some believers misunderstood “liberty of Christians” thinking that Christians could walk without any restriction. Therefore that “all things are lawful for me” had become a kind of slogan.

“But all things are not helpful” Paul here puts forth the first principle of applying the liberty of Christians ---- things that are not helpful cannot be done. Liberty does not equal to indulgence. All things that should be helpful can be done.

“All things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any” the second principle of applying the liberty of Christians: we cannot do anything that may even rule us and become our master. In other words we should exercise liberty as well as keep the liberty for fear of losing liberty.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    This verse points out an important principle of Christians’ conduct. After we have been saved all our walking should bring us about spiritual profit. Besides we should not indulge in anything that may entangle us. Therefore all things that cannot build up our spiritual life but will bind us are unlawful.

2)    The conduct of Christians is not in external actions. There is nothing that cannot be done ---- “all things are lawful” and there is nothing that we must do ---- “but I will not be brought under the power of any”. Whether one thing is lawful is decided by whether there is the constitution of Christ or the profit of Christ ---- which are the true “helpful” things.

3)    In the church life there is not any external regulation concerning the conduct of Christians but in every believer there is a living Christ who is our law of life and living guidance. All things that are of spiritual profit without being ruled by anything are lawful for us. However anything that is of no spiritual profit and that easily rules us is unlawful for us.

4)    If liberty is not properly applied it may turn to indulgence and indulgence will change into bad habits and bad habits will prove to be power of ruling men. Once man is ruled by bad habits what dominates his actions should not be himself but bad habits.

 

1Cor. 6:13 “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. ”

   YLT: “the meats for the belly and the belly for the meats. And God both this and these shall make useless; and the body not for whoredom but for the Lord and the Lord for the body;”

Literal Meaning: “foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods” this was another slogan at that time for the purpose of defending the carnal enjoyment. The general meaning is as follows: since the delicious food is before us we must eat them for our belly is created for the enjoyment of delicious food.

“But God will destroy both it and them” Paul means that physical food and flesh will perish and will pass away. Christians should pay attention to the imperishable and eternal things when living in the world.

“Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord” the physical bodies of Christians are not for their own enjoyment but for the purpose of the Lord.

Note that it is different between “fornications” towards “bodies” as well as “food” towards “stomach”. The former influences one’s end in the coming age and the latter is only in this age.

“And the Lord for the body” Paul points the interrelationship between “food” and “stomach” in the first half verse. And in like manner he mentions the interrelationship between “the body” and “the Lord”.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Today it is very common among the children of God of misapplication of liberty. And two matters are the commonest: the first is eating ---- there is no temperance in food and the second is sex ---- man indulges himself in sexual relationship. Both of eating and sex are originally for the will of God ---- the maintenance of life and multiplication of life. However men’s misapplication of them turns them to tools of Satan of harming men.

2)    Christians need not to pay too much attention to food or stomach or flavor those who have walked in which have not been profited by (Heb. 13:9).

3)    Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4);

4)    There is a feature of heretical teachers ---- whose god is their belly (Phil. 3:19). They do not serve our Lord Christ but their own belly (Rom. 16:18).

5)    One’s body is for walking and actions. All the four essential requirements of the people ---- food clothing housing and transportation ---- relate to our bodies. If Christians only pay attention to knowledge instead of walking there will be of no reality or testimony.

6)    “The body is for the Lord”. The Lord especially cares for our bodies but we often regard lightly our bodies and fail to look after them well. He who troubles his body has sinned against the Lord.

7)    The body of man is not for food or sex but for the Lord. Appetite and sex are instincts of our bodies given by God so that we can live and achieve the purpose of God’s creation. Therefore no matter appetite or sex they can normally glorify God and benefit men.

8)    Christians are neither those who uphold asceticism nor those who indulge in sensual pleasures but those who temperate in everything ---- they satisfy their physical need for the sake of the Lord.

9)    “The Lord is for the body” if Christ has the first place in our heart the Lord will take the responsibility of providing the need of our bodies.

 

1Cor. 6:14 “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.”

   YLT: “and God both the Lord did raise and us will raise up through His power.”

Literal Meaning: “and God both raised up the Lord” the fact of the Lord’s resurrection is a powerful proof proving that the bodies of us will also rise (1Cor. 15:22). This is the result of the working of God’s great power (see 2Cor. 13:4).

“And will also raise us up by His power” since the bodies of Christians will be raised and redeemed in the future (see Rom. 8:23) we should not misuse our bodies to be tools of sins.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    When the Lord comes again He shall transform our body of humiliation into conformity to his body of glory according to the working of power which he has even to subdue all things to himself (Phil. 3:21).

2)    Though we are transient in the flesh we live for the imperishable hope. Therefore Christian’s life is truly full of significance.

3)    If the dead does not rise let us eat and drink for to-morrow we die (1Cor. 15:32). However since we are sure that we will rise our life have a purpose and we know that our labor in Christ in not vain (see 1Cor. 15:58).

4)    In fact if we have spiritual revelation we can experience in our bodies without waiting for the Lord’s second coming that the Spirit of life swallows up all our physical weakness and disease and eliminates all the elements of death so that we shall live in the reality of the risen life of Christ because “if the Spirit of him that has raised up Jesus from among dead dwell in you he that has raised up Christ from among dead shall quicken your mortal bodies also on account of his Spirit which dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11).

 

1Cor. 6:15 “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! ”

   YLT: “Have ye not known that your bodies are members of Christ? having taken then the members of the Christ shall I make members of an harlot? let it be not!”

Literal Meaning: “do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” ---- “Members” indicate the “owner-member relationship”. “Members of Christ” it means that the bodies of believers are of Christ and have the purpose and function of serving Christ.

  After believers are saved Christ not only dwells in our spirit (2Tim. 4:22) but also extends from our spirits to our hearts (Eph. 3:17) and then to our bodies (2Cor. 4:11). Therefore all the spirit and soul and body of believers are of the Lord (1Thess. 5:23) and are members of the body of Christ manifested on the earth (Eph. 5:30).

“Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!” ---- “Take”: take the members of Christ to harlots to be her members. No doubt that it is a giant comparison between Christ and harlot. A normal Christian will in no wise prefer to be members of harlot but reject to be members of Christ. Therefore Paul says “certainly not”.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    He who abuses his body has overstepped the power of a Christian’s liberty.

2)    Man can debase himself by letting his members enslaved by lusts and can elevate himself to be members of Christ ---- what a giant disparity between them!

 

1Cor. 6:16 “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two " He says "shall become one flesh." ”

   YLT: “have ye not known that he who is joined to the harlot is one body? `for they shall be -- saith He -- the two for one flesh.'”

Literal Meaning: “or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?” ---- This verse expresses the view of God upon sexual relationship.

“For "the two " He says "shall become one flesh."” ---- It is quoted from the Book of Genesis (2:24) showing that husband and wife become one flesh by sexual relationship as well as that “God has joined together let not man separate (see Matt. 19:5-6).” Man should honor this united relationship and have no fornications or adultery (see Heb. 13:4).

 

1Cor. 6:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

   YLT: “And he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit;”

Literal Meaning: “but he who is joined to the Lord” the relation between believers and the Lord is life that of husband and wife. Such jointed relationship can be understood from the Lord’s parable of the vine and the branches (see John 15:4-5). We abide in the Lord and the Lord is in us. And there is fellowship of life between the Lord and us and we shall thus bear fruit of life. Therefore it is a matter that is “in life”.

“Is one spirit with Him” the Lord is the Spirit (2Cor. 3:17). And the Lord’s spirit dwells in believers (see Rom. 8:9-10; Gal. 4:6) and is jointed to believers’ spirits unto one. “Spirit” is mentioned in many places of the Scriptures without the word “holy”. Therefore it is difficult for us to judge whether it is “the Holy Spirit” or “the spirit of man”. Actually it may sometimes refer to the jointed spirit.

 

1Cor. 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ”

   YLT: “flee the whoredom; every sin -- whatever a man may commit -- is without the body and he who is committing whoredom against his own body doth sin.”

Literal Meaning: “flee sexual immorality” there is a principle in the Scriptures ---- we should “stand against” the devil (see Eph. 6:11 13; James 4:7; 1Pet. 5:9) but “abstain from” or “flee” the lusts (see 1Thess. 4:3; 1Tim. 6:11; 2Tim. 2:22).

  “Flee” the imperative tone shows that we should flee right now.

  “Flee sexual immorality” because there is not a sin that more corrupts man’s spirit than this one. 

“Every sin that a man does is outside the body” actually a lot of bad conduct will harm man’s body e.g. excessive drinking drug taking dancing overnight gambling overnight and etc. however it is incomprehensible to us that here “…outside the body”. Some Bible exegetes think that it is quoted from the words of the Corinthians by Paul so as to expose their attitude of despising sins.

Besides possibly it is a comparative saying. Paul holds that the influence (spiritual influence) of other sins towards man’s bodies is not worse than sexual immorality. Other sins have nothing to do with “becoming one body” (see v.16) but only sexual immorality makes one joined to the body of the other one unto one body.

“But he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” ---- “Sin against” it is not only harm or injury but also offense against the will of God concerning His creation of man’s body.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    Sexual immorality is a kind of sin in body as well as an eternal mark and shame in the body. Therefore Paul says “flee sexual immorality”. If we are faced with such temptation it will be better for us to turn away and flee it than to attempt to struggle with it.

2)    We Christians should have right attitudes toward our bodies ---- at least we shall flee sexual immorality and be kept from the blemish of sins. And in a more elevated sense we shall glorify God (see v.20).

3)    In order to teach us to flee sexual immorality and keep the holiness of bodies the apostle reveals us the spiritual position of our bodies here (see v.12-20). This is the best example: the right way of bringing men to the Lord is not only correcting men’s actions externally but firstly giving men strong and rich spiritual knowledge. If man is really opened inside and has known a certain matter he will be affected on that point by his knowledge and have right actions spontaneously.

 

1Cor. 6: 19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you whom you have from God and you are not your own?”

   YLT: “Have ye not known that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit in you which ye have from God? and ye are not your own ”

Literal Meaning: “or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” it is mentioned in the third chapter of this book that the church is the temple of God (see 1Cor. 3:16-17) and that is the cooperate one. Here it reveals that the body of each believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the spirit of every believer (see Rom. 8:9).

“The Holy Spirit…whom you have from God” it means that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.

“Who is in you” the Holy Spirit dwells in believers (John 20:22).

“And you are not your own?” ---- Every believer does not belong to himself.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    If we do not have the indwelling spirit in us we are not only mortal flesh but also whited sepulchres (see Matt. 23:27). However if we have the indwelling spirit we become much honorable.

2)    We shall not receive the Holy Spirit as a guest but as our Lord and let Him reign all in the small temple of us. Therefore we shall walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh (see Gal. 5:16).

 

1Cor. 6:20 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.”

   YLT: “for ye were bought with a price; glorify then God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.”

Literal Meaning: “for you were bought at a price” “price” refer to the price of the Lord’s precious blood. “Be bought” the buying out in the slave market. That the Lord bought to us so as to we shall be unto Himself.

“Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.” ---- “Glorify God in your body” it indicates that we shall not only keep the holiness of our bodies but also let the Spirit of God occupy us more and be filled in our bodies until when we can fully manifest God.

Enlightenment in the Word:

1)    After we have been bought at the price of the Lord’s precious blood our bodies will become “members” jointed with Christ (v.13) as well as the “temple” that the Holy Spirit dwells (v.19). Therefore we should not let our bodies be tools of sins (see Rom. 6:13) but vessels of the glory of God.

2)    The best way for our bodies of glorifying God is leading a normal church life. The church life has close relationship with our bodies. If we have not looked after our bodies well or we have used our bodies wrongly the church life of us will be seriously influenced.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

Why Should Not Christians Go to Law Against One Another?

A.   Going to law against one another is unworthy of the honorable identity of Christians (v.2-3).

B.   Going to law against one another is unworthy of the gifts that Christians have obtained ---- true wisdom (v.5).

C.   Going to law against one another is unworthy of the relationship of Christians ---- they are all brothers (v.6).

D.   Going to law against one another is unworthy of the spirit of denying oneself of Christians ---- being willing to accept wrong and let themselves be cheated (v.7).

E.   Going to law against one another is unworthy of the commandment of loving one another for Christians (v.8).

F.    Going to law against one another is unworthy of the sanctified position of Christians (v.9-11)

 

Do You Not Know…?

A.   Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? (v.2)

B.   Do you not know that we shall judge angels? (v.3)

C.   Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? (v.9)

D.   Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? (v.15)

E.   Do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? (v.16)

F.    Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? (v.19)

 

Why Should Not Christians Commit Sexual Immorality?

A.   The sexual immorality is against the principle of the liberty of Christians’ bodies (v.12).

B.   The sexual immorality is against the principle of the function of Christians’ bodies (v.13).

C.   The sexual immorality is against the principle of the resurrection of Christians’ bodies (v.14).

D.   The sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are the members of the body of Christ (v.15).

E.   The sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are joined to the Lord (v.16-17).

F.    The sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are the temple of the Lord (v.18-19).

G.   The sexual immorality is against the principle of the honor of Christians’ bodies (v.20).

 

The Spiritual Position of Man’s Body

A.   The body is for the Lord (v.13).

B.   God shall raise up our bodies (v.14) and we will be clothed with incorruptibility (see 1Cor. 15:53).

C.   Our bodies are members of Christ (v.15).

D.   He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (v.17).

E.   Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19).

F.    We were bought at a price (v.20).

G.   We “glorify God” thought our body (v.20).

 

The Principles of Christians’ Walking

A.   We can do things that are “lawful” (v.12).

B.   We can do things “that we will not be brought under the power of them” (v.12).

C.   We shall do everything “for the Lord” (v.13).

D.   We shall walk by the “risen” power of life (v.14).

E.   We shall walk through “the union with the Lord” (v.17).

F.    We shall walk in a manner so that the indwelling “spirit” can rest (v.19).

G.   We shall walk for “glorifying God” (v.20).

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Mary Zhou