1 Corinthians 6

20 verses

TL;DR

Paul warns the Corinthian Christians that they should resolve disputes within the church rather than in secular courts, condemns sexual immorality and other sins, and reminds them that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Summary

1 Corinthians 6 opens with Paul rebuking the Corinthians for taking civil lawsuits against one another and urges them to settle matters within the community of saints. He argues that if Christians are not fit to judge worldly disputes, they should not judge one another, and questions their lack of wisdom. Paul then lists the kinds of immoral behaviors that will disqualify believers from inheriting the kingdom of God, reminding them that though they have been washed, sanctified, and justified, they must still live righteously. He addresses the permissibility of food and the proper use of the body, declaring that the body is not for fornication but for God, and that it belongs to God because it is a temple of the Holy Spirit. The chapter concludes with a command to flee from sexual sin and to honor God with their bodies and spirits.

Outline

1. Rebuke for civil lawsuits and call to internal judgment (v.1‑7)
2. Condemnation of immorality and assurance of sanctification (v.8‑13)
3. Teaching on the body as a temple and instruction to flee sin (v.14‑20)

Themes

Justice within the Christian communityHoliness and sanctificationThe body as a temple of the Holy Spirit

Keywords

justicelawsinfornicationbodyHoly Spirittemplesanctificationshamejudgmentuniverse

People

Paul

Places

churchworld

Things

lawsuitsjudgmentsinfornicationbodyHoly Spirittemple

Key Verses

1 Corinthians 6:1: Highlights the core admonition against taking civil disputes outside the church.
1 Corinthians 6:13: Emphasizes that all things are lawful, but not all are beneficial—warning against excess.
1 Corinthians 6:18: Direct command to flee from sexual immorality, central to the moral teaching.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Declares the body as the temple of the Holy Ghost, framing how believers should honor God.

Questions

Why does Paul insist that disputes should be settled within the church rather than in secular courts?
What does the repeated reference to the body as a temple imply about Christian identity and conduct?
How does Paul reconcile the idea that all things are lawful with the need for moral discipline?
In what ways does Paul’s warning against sexual immorality address the broader spiritual health of the community?
How might the concept of being "sanctified" and "justified" change a believer’s approach to sin after reading this chapter?

Sentiment

negative
The chapter is largely admonishing, criticizing sinful behavior and legal disputes, though it also offers assurance of sanctification.