The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:11
Past, present, and future. In the two preceding verses the apostle has described, in terse, plain terms, the awful vices to which the heathen inhabitants of Corinth were addicted. To his enlightened mind the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God were diametrically opposed; and the test by which Paul judged them was the test of moral character—a test which the reason and conscience cannot but approve. The apostle knew from what a slough some of his Corinthian converts had been delivered,... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you; literally, and these things some of you were. As Gentiles, many of them had been "dead in trespasses and sins" ( Ephesians 2:1 ). (For a similar contrast of the change wrought by the Spirit of God, see Titus 3:3-7 .) But ye are washed . The voice and tense in the original differ from those of the following words. This cannot be accidental. It is better, therefore, to render, But ye washed away your sins; i.e. ye, by your baptism, washed away those stains... read more