First Corinthians Chapter 6
Originally posted Monday July 14
First
Corinthians Chapter 6:1-11 Lawsuits among Believers
Paul
makes an obvious connection of his concern regarding groups judging one another
with legal disputes which have arisen between or among church members.
Previously he made the point that it was not the responsibility of the members
to judge the moral lives of those outside the church. However, it was their
duty to make such judgments within the church in matters of holiness as
noted in the case of the man who was living with his
stepmother. Taking this principle one step further he raises the issue of
cases where there is a dispute between individual members. He writes,
"Dare anyone of you having a dispute with another to be judged by the
unrighteous and not before the saints?" Paul finds it utterly
shameful that any dispute would be taken to the civil court for judging
between one member and another. Even on the grounds that the Corinthian
courts would be biased toward the wealthier, Paul might think true
justice would not be served, especially if the one bringing the dispute were
the wealthy party. But more importantly, he reminds them that the saints
(the term Paul used for church members) in the new age will judge the world and even the angels! Certainly if
that is the case they can handle ordinary disputes in the church! The
unrighteous (non Christian) judges have no place, no spiritual standing in
church matters (a rudimentary separation of Church and State?). Surely they can
find someone among themselves with the necessary wisdom to judge the matter.
Putting
aside the matter of using outside courts to judge an inside matter, the members
ought not be suing one another in the first place. To do so is itself
already a defeat for both parties in the case. It is better to be wronged and
defrauded than to seek resolution outside the church or within. God will
be the final judge in such matters. Those who have wronged or
defrauded another member must beware, for such wrongdoers will not inherit
the kingdom of God. Paul uses the opportunity to emphasize just how
spiritually dangerous their position is as he lumps them together with a long
list of others who also will not inherit the kingdom. The listing of categories
of evil and good acts is a typical style in Stoic and Cynic philosophical
writings. Paul will frequently use such lists. The point is to force the
one wronging or defrauding another to see themselves as part of the
larger evil and unrighteousness of the world which he understands to be under
or in Satan's domain (as did all Jews and Christians). Paul is not
differentiating among these categories. He sees them all as being on the
same level, not one more grievous than another. To wrong and to defraud
(rob) is as unholy an act as the rest. The members should understand this for
these categories once included some of them as well as those outside judges to
which they had planned to turn for justice. But they were baptized, justified
by God through faith, forgiven and are being sanctified by the Spirit of God in
Christ. They must take care not to fall back into old ways lest they corrupt
the community with their unholy leaven and be cut off from the kingdom of God.
First
Corinthians Chapter 6:12-20 Glorify God in Body and Spirit
Paul
begins to pull together some of his previous admonishments. He begins with a
basic premise "All things are lawful for me," perhaps as a response
to the Corinthian's misunderstanding of what being free entails. He adds
the correctives that not all things are beneficial nor will he
be dominated by anything. Regarding food (and drink and special days) he
is free. It is after all just food that goes into the stomach and both of these
will be destroyed in the grave. As for the body which he understands as the
agent through which sinful acts are committed, it is for (belongs to) the Lord
not for fornication (used specifically for sexual activity outside of
marriage). This is important because we are all members of Christ and will
share in his resurrection. Because this is true our bodies, which are the
Lord's, are not to be defiled by immoral acts. Using the spiritual
union between believer and Christ, he likens the joining of the body
(as a member) which belongs to the Lord with a prostitute. To do
so would mean a member in union with Christ is now a member in union
with the prostitute and becomes, according to Gen. 2:24, "one body" with her. The two are mutually
exclusive. One cannot be joined as one with Christ and joined as
one with a prostitute. Paul sees the example of the prostitute (and other
sexual immorality) to be a special case. Other sin is directed toward
another but sexual immorality is directed towards one's self
(body) which Paul has designated as the temple of the Holy Spirit within.
Paul's summary exhortation reminds the Corinthians, in terms
of their redemption through Christ and God's gift of the Holy Spirit that
it is through the body that one can glorify God. The one in spiritual
union with Christ belongs to Christ and it is through this union that one
glorifies God.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Vss. 2-3 contains Paul's
assertion that the Corinthian Christians will judge the world and the angels.
There are vague references to this ancient tradition of the twelve tribes being
rulers and judges of the world in the Old Testament Book of Daniel as well as
the Apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon, Esdras and Enoch. Most of the references are
apocalyptic in nature: they relate to the end of the great cosmic battle
between God and Satan, the defeat of Satan and the establishment of the
reign of God. (See LK 22:28-30).
Vs. 20 uses the term,
"glorify God." This does not mean to add glory to God or to give him
glory, as if either is possible for anyone to do by any word or deed. To
glorify God in one's body is for our words and deeds to be seen as reflecting
our relationship with God. In other words, God is glorified when God's presence
is seen through how we live our lives. Paul understands the body
(flesh and blood) as the medium, the instrument, through which sinful acts
or holy acts have their opportunity. When a person is in spiritual union
with Christ and seeking God's will God is glorified. Paul may use other terms
such as "bring" glory to God, but they will all mean the same thing.
It
is worth mentioning the thematic similarity of vs. 20 with that of the "Lord's" prayer in which the
first line is "Let your name be hallowed (glorified)." The point
of the next two lines is that the doing of God's will "on earth as in the
heavens" brings about the reign of God by which God's name will be hallowed
in the entire world.
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