Church discipline continues to be the focus of the Apostle’s letter.
Previously Paul spoke of Judgment between Christ and Satan, but by discipline the Apostle does not mean judgement of Corinthians who do not identify with Christ Jesus. So now Paul INSISTS that the Corinthians judge a fellow church member in this case of moral sin.
Church Discipline in Moral matters
Dare G5111 any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust and not before the saints?
1 Corinthians 6:1 King James Version – Paul’s challenge to judge our fellow believers rather than defer any matter of church discipline to a civil court.
Strong language from the writ of Judgment by Christ’s Apostle to the gentiles!
But note Paul’s comparison of the civil court –– (Roman law for Corinthians, even as civil common pleas law is practiced in the US and by other Common Era courts).
The Apostle directs the Corinthians to remain within the jurisdiction of God’s Law indicting common justice as law before the unjust .
τολμάω - From tolma (boldness, probably itself from the base of τέλος (G5056) through the idea of extreme conduct)
Paul applies his authoritative instruction of church discipline to what he has just stated.
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 5:12 New Living Translation
Clear instruction to the church! Yet how many Common Era christian churches will obey God's word in this?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” – 1 Corinthians 5:13 NIV
κρίνω –krinō – go to Law
The Apostle presents a case to the Corinthian Church supporting his judgement that THEY should judge their own members and therefore become accountable to the Lord God rather than the civil courts.
* krinō is a case study in itself in the context of the Gospel and how Jesus Christ instructed disciples and saints to use judgement and discernment differently than the world. Study its linked definitions and see what I mean. God-willing, I may return to it.
1 Corinthians 6:
‘HOW DARE YOU!’ or ‘Dare any of you,’ say some more authoritative English translations.
Now the Apostle will introduce his gentle case to the saints of the Corinthian Church.
Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? – Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 6:2a NLT
'But wait!' Paul might quickly follow. 'Not yet and here's why:'
And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? – 1 Corinthians 6:2b NLT
Let's glance at a perhaps more palatable explanation from the International Children’s Bible *additional link to the NIRV
You should be ashamed! Why do you not let God’s people decide who is right? 2 Surely you know that God’s people will judge the world. So if you are to judge the world, then surely you are able to judge small things as well. 3 You know that in the future we will judge angels. So surely we can judge things in this life.
4 So if you have disagreements that must be judged, why do you take them to those who are not part of the church? They mean nothing to the church. 5 I say this to shame you.
a Plea for Church Discipline
Surely there is someone among you wise enough to judge a complaint between two brothers in Christ.
6 But now one brother goes to court against another brother. And you let men who are not believers judge their case!
Has YOUR Common Era pastor preached this (or does he hope that his unseen judgements will go unnoticed)?
Do Elders of your local church wisely judge such offenders?
But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
1 Corinthians 6:6 NIV
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
1 Corinthians 5:1 NIV
Spoiled Fruit of deferred Church Discipline
Will a pagan court, a jury of those condoning and practicing such fornication (porneia) not equate Christ’s saints to common practices of those who worship their self-gratifying gods of the flesh?
7 When you take another believer to court, you have lost the battle already. Why not be treated wrongly? Why not be cheated?
The Apostle asks: Are you NOT willing to suffer injustice by the hand of a fellow saint as witness of Jesus' love?
8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong.
'Christians,' they say, 'they're not so saintly, but openly sinful, just like us.'
And you do it to your brothers and sisters.
Who has died to the flesh?
9 Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled…
- 11.. You were made holy.
- You were made right with God.
- All of this was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- It was also done by the Spirit of our God.
Paul lists additional sins to this single case of one man of the Corinthian Church.
- (9) Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom.
- Neither will those who worship statues of gods
- or commit adultery.
- Neither will men who sleep with other men.
- 10 Neither will thieves
- or those who always want more and more.
- Neither will those who are often drunk
- or tell lies
- or cheat.
- People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.
11 Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away.
Discipline and discernment – Growing up in Christ
Later in his letter Paul will instruct the Corinthian saints:
When I was a child, I talked like a child,
I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
Continuing once more, beloved saints young or mature, from the International Children's Bible
- 6:12 “I am allowed to do all things.”
- But not all things are good for me to do.
- “I am allowed to do all things.” [“I have the right to do anything.”]
- But I must not do those things that will make me their slave.
- [But I will not be controlled by anything.]
- But I must not do those things that will make me their slave.
- 13 “Food is for the stomach, and the stomach for food.”
- Yes. But God [theos] will destroy them both.
- The body is not for sexual immorality [fornication, G4202].
- The body is for the Lord [kyrios] , and the Lord is for the body.
Flee fornication. G4202 Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Corinthians 7:2 King James Version *G4202 – porneia
Paul will add to this application for the saints of the Corinthian Church:
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, G4202 let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 7:2 KJV
God raised the Lord Jesus
By God’s power God raised the Lord Jesus from death.
And God will also raise us from death.
15 Surely you know that your bodies are parts of Christ himself.
So I must never take parts of Christ and join them to a prostitute! 16 It is written in the Scriptures,
“The two people will become one body.”[Genesis 2:24]
Spoiled Fruit goes to Law
Paul will next include more delicate matters concerning sexual behavior between men and women, but first the Apostle appeals to the church as members of a holy body, the Temple of God – ONE SPIRIT WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Once more, from the International Children's Bible
So run away from sexual immorality. Every other sin that a person does is outside the body.
But those who are sexually immoral sin against their own bodies.
19 You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. You do not own yourselves.
20 You were bought by God for a price. So honor God with your bodies.
NEXT: Married Life of the saints in Christ
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