1 Corinthians 6:15-17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 6:17

Verse 17 17.He that is joined to the Lord. He has added this to show that our connection with Christ is closer than that of a husband and wife, and that the former, accordingly, must be greatly preferred before the latter, so that it must be maintained with the utmost chastity and fidelity. For if he who is joined to a woman in marriage ought not to have illicit connection with an harlot, much more heinous were this crime in believers, who are not merely one flesh with Christ, but also one... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:12-16

The sanctity of the body. At Corinth idolatry assumed a most imposing, luxurious, and voluptuous form. It is quite in accordance with all we know of the opulent and pleasure loving inhabitants of and visitors to "the star of Hellas," that those controversies and scandals which are dealt with so fully in this chapter should arise in a Christian society planted by the apostle at Corinth. It should be more especially noticed that there is a sufficient reason for the remarkable fact that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

The inexcusable sin and shame of fornication. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Christianity in relation to the body. "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient," etc. It would seem that there were those in the Church at Corinth who regarded Christianity as giving them a kind of liberty to do whatsoever they wished. Some of them having left Judaism with its various restraints, and others paganism, which also had restrictions, they were too ready to push the doctrine of religious liberty, as proclaimed by Paul, far beyond its limits. The apostle... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

The human body and its relation to Christ. Among the objects about him proper for use and enjoyment—those objects which accorded with his nature and position as a redeemed man—was there anything from which he was excluded? "All things are lawful unto me," and, in this sense, liberty and law are identical, the measure of the one being the measure of the other. If law is of God, so is freedom; if the former is the expression of the Divine will and character, so is the latter; and if man is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Abuse of Christian liberty. It appears that the principle of Christian liberty, "All things are lawful for me," had been greatly abused by some in the Church at Corinth. It was cited in defence of fornication, as well as of eating all kinds of meats. They confounded it with the philosophical maxim that man is the measure for himself; from which they drew the conclusion that the sexual appetite may be gratified in the same indiscriminate way as that of hunger. This pernicious abuse the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:13-19

Duties to the body. Christianity concerns itself about man's body as well as about man's soul. Christianity is a religion for man—for a whole man. When considering matters of religion, we are apt to leave the body too much out of account. Our remissness might be corrected if we remembered how large an influence the body has upon the mind and soul. I. CONSIDER WHAT CHRISTIANITY SAYS ABOUT THE BODY . It is: 1. For the Lord. 2. A temple of the Holy Ghost. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:15

Members of Christ. We find the same metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12 , 1 Corinthians 12:27 ; Ephesians 5:30 . The Church is often alluded to as "the body of Christ" ( Ephesians 1:23 ; Colossians 1:18 ; Colossians 2:19 , etc.). Elsewhere the union between Christ and Christians is described by the metaphor of a tree and its branches; a building and the stones of which it is composed ( Ephesians 2:21 , Ephesians 2:22 ). God forbid. An admirable idiom to express the real force... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:16

What, know ye not, etc.? The clause is used to explain and justify the strong expression which he had used in the previous verse. It involves an argument against the sin which is the most original and impressive which could have been used. To this passage especially is due the tone taken by Christians as to these sins, which differed so totally from that taken by heathen. They two. The words do not occur in Genesis 2:24 , but are always so quoted in the New Testament. Saith he. This is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:17

That is joined unto the Lord. This phrase, indicating the closest possible union, is found in Deuteronomy 10:20 ; 2 Kings 18:6 . Is one spirit. There is a "mystical union," not only "betwixt Christ and his Church," but also between Christ and the holy soul Hence, to St. Paul, spiritual life meant the indwelling of Christ in the heart—the life "in Christ;" so that he could say, "It is no more I that live, but Christ that liveth in me" ( Galatians 2:20 ; Galatians 3:27 ; Colossians... read more

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