1 Corinthians 6:6-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Here the apostle reproves them for going to law with one another before heathen judges for little matters; and therein blames all vexatious law-suits. In the previous chapter he had directed them to punish heinous sins among themselves by church-censures. Here he directs them to determine controversies with one another by church-counsel and advice, concerning which observe, I. The fault he blames them for: it was going to law. Not but that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. But, 1.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

6:1-8 When any of you has a ground of complaint against his fellow, does he dare to go to law before unrighteous men, and not before God's dedicated people? Are you not aware that God's dedicated people will one day judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unfit to deal with the smallest matters of judgment? Are you not aware that we will judge angels--let alone things which have to do with ordinary everyday life? If then you have questions of judgment which have to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:6

But brother goeth to law with brother ,.... The relation meant is spiritual; it was usual for members of churches to be called brethren, they professing to be born again of the same Father, and belonging to the same family under Christ, the son, firstborn, and master of it: and a very wicked and shameful thing it was, that persons in such a relation, being of such a family, should go to law with one another at all: and that before the unbelievers ; which is an aggravation of their sin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:7

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you ,.... Or a "defect": a want of brotherly love, or there would be no occasion to go to law at all; a want of wisdom and conduct, or proper persons would be pitched upon, and chosen out from among themselves to be arbitrators and judge between them; and a want of care among their leaders, who else would have pointed out to them such a method of accommodation, and not have suffered them to go the lengths they did: because ye go to law one with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 6:6

Brother goeth to law with brother - One Christian sues another at law! This is almost as great a scandal as can exist in a Christian society. Those in a religious community who will not submit to a proper arbitration, made by persons among themselves, should be expelled from the Church of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 6:7

There is utterly a fault among you - There is a most manifest defect among you, Of peaceableness; Of brotherly love; Of mutual confidence; and Of reverence for God, and concern for the honor of his cause. Why do ye not rather take wrong? - Better suffer an injury than take a method of redressing yourselves which must injure your own peace, and greatly dishonor the cause of God. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 6:7

Verse 7 7.Now indeed there is utterly a fault. Here we have the second part of the reproof, which contains a general doctrine; for he now reproves them, not on the ground of their exposing the gospel to derision and disgrace, but on the ground of their going to law with each other. This, he says, is a fault We must, however, observe the propriety of the term which he employs. For ἥττημα in Greek signifies weakness of mind, as when one is easily broken down (332) by injuries, and cannot bear... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

The ideal Church a tribunal. "Dare any of you, having a matter against another," etc.? In our sketch on the preceding verses we looked on the true Church as a feast. Here we have to look on it as a tribunal, a court of judicature, where disputes are to be settled and grievances redressed. It would appear that questions arose among the Corinthian Christians that required settlement—questions of wrong done to persons or to property, and that too the litigious spirit was so rife in their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Litigation; or, How shall Christians settle their differences and disputes? Remarkable is the insight which this Epistle affords us into the interior life of a Church of the first age. We seem to be brought into the presence of remarkable virtues and of remarkable faults, and are impressed with the incongruity of the picture. One thing is certain, that human nature was then what it is now, and that Christianity offers the one Divine remedy for individual and for social ills. I. IT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Christians and the law courts. How far are Paul's exhortations applicable to believers in the present day? Amongst the ancients, laws were often unjust, judges venal, and frequently certain objectionable formalities, such as adjuration by false deities, had to be observed. In our own land and time these things happily are not as of old. Yet even amongst us there are laws tainted with injustice, and there is not a little in our modes of legal procedure which is objectionable. Legal... read more

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