1 Corinthians 6:15 kjv
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1 Corinthians 6:15 nkjv
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
1 Corinthians 6:15 niv
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:15 esv
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6:15 nlt
Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!
1 Corinthians 6 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 6:19 | Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit... | Bought by Christ, indwelt by God |
| 1 Cor 7:23 | You were bought at a price; do not become slaves to humans. | Redemption and slavery to God |
| Romans 12:1 | Present your bodies as living sacrifices... | Sacrificial offering |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. | Glorifying God in all things |
| Galatians 2:20 | I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. | Union with Christ |
| 1 Peter 1:18-19 | redeemed with... precious blood of Christ. | Cost of redemption |
| Acts 20:28 | shepherd the church of God that he acquired with his own blood. | Christ's blood as purchase price |
| Rev 5:9 | redeemed people for God from every tribe... by your blood. | Redeemed by blood |
| 1 Cor 15:57 | Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | Victory through Christ |
| Colossians 1:13-14 | delivered us from the domain of darkness, transferred us... in his beloved Son. | Deliverance and transfer |
| John 15:5 | remain in me, and I in you... apart from me you can do nothing. | Dependence on Christ |
| 2 Cor 5:15 | and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | Living for Christ |
| Eph 5:23-24 | Christ is the head of the church... As the church submits to Christ... | Christ as head and husband |
| 1 Thes 4:3-5 | God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor... | Sexual purity |
| Rom 6:12-13 | Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness... | Resistance to sin |
| Phil 3:19 | Their destiny is destruction, their god is their appetite, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. | Contrasting desires |
| Gal 5:17 | For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other... | Flesh vs. Spirit |
| Rom 8:9-11 | you are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. | Indwelling Spirit |
| 1 Cor 9:27 | I batter my body and make it my slave... | Disciplining the body |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me. | Strength in Christ |
| 1 Cor 3:17 | If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. | Protecting God's temple |
1 Corinthians 6 verses
1 Corinthians 6 15 Meaning
This verse asserts a profound truth about the believer's identity in Christ: their physical bodies are not their own, but belong to the Lord, who has purchased them. This ownership by Christ carries immense implications for how believers are to live and treat their bodies, influencing every aspect of their existence.
1 Corinthians 6 15 Context
This verse appears within a larger section (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) where Paul addresses the issue of sexual immorality within the Corinthian church. The Corinthians had questions and were exhibiting lax attitudes, potentially influenced by surrounding pagan philosophies that distinguished between the physical and spiritual. Paul is forcefully correcting this flawed thinking, emphasizing the unity of the believer's spirit and body as purchased by Christ. He's arguing against the idea that sexual immorality is a minor sin, or one that doesn't affect the "spirit," by reminding them of their total ownership by Christ.
1 Corinthians 6 15 Word Analysis
- οὖν (oun): Therefore; consequently. Indicates a logical connection to what was previously stated or argued. It suggests that what follows is a conclusion or implication derived from prior reasoning, specifically from the preceding verses regarding personal conduct.
- τὰ σώματα (ta sōmata): The bodies. Refers to the physical human body, encompassing its functions, appetites, and actions. The plural form emphasizes the totality of the physical person.
- ὑμῶν (hymōn): Your. Possessive pronoun, indicating that the bodies in question belong to the Corinthian believers.
- ἐστιν (estin): Is. Third-person singular present indicative of εἰμί (eimi), to be. A simple statement of being or existence.
- τοῦ Χριστοῦ (tou Christou): Of Christ. Possessive genitive case, indicating ownership. The bodies belong to Christ. This is a foundational statement of Christian identity and discipleship.
- ὅτι (hoti): That. Introduces a subordinate clause explaining the reason for the preceding statement or an underlying truth.
- τῶν τοῦ σώματος (tōn tou sōmatos): Of the body; by bodily relationship; in consequence of bodily relation; (by relation to bodies) in consequence of corporeal connexion. The exact meaning here can be debated but generally implies that they belong to Christ not just in spirit, but as integral part of their being. It could suggest ownership "of" the body, or through the body. Some interpret "bodily relationship" as relation by birth, or kinship, which has been superseded by belonging to Christ.
- καὶ (kai): And. A conjunction connecting two clauses or ideas. Here it links the two statements of belonging.
- τῶν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος (tōn tou agiou pneumatos): Of the Holy Spirit. This clause is absent in most ancient manuscripts and is considered a later addition by textual critics. If it were present, it would reinforce the idea that the bodies are not only Christ's but also belong to the Holy Spirit, aligning with 1 Cor 6:19.
- δὲ (de): But; indeed. A postpositive particle used for contrast, emphasis, or transition. Here it serves to link the ownership by Christ to the next verse about the Holy Spirit, although the direct phrase regarding the Holy Spirit is missing here.
Words Group by Words Group Analysis:
- "οὐν τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν ἐστιν τοῦ Χριστοῦ" (Oun ta sōmata hymōn estin tou Christou): "Therefore your bodies are of Christ" or "Therefore your bodies belong to Christ." This forms the core assertion of ownership. The use of "Therefore" ties it directly to the arguments made earlier. The definite article "ta" before "sōmata" (bodies) emphasizes that all of their bodies, in their entirety, belong to Christ. The possessive genitive "tou Christou" leaves no room for doubt that Christ is the owner.
1 Corinthians 6 15 Bonus Section
The phrase "are of Christ" (or "belong to Christ") points to a redemption that involves more than just forgiveness. It's a purchase price, the precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19), that transferred ownership from sin and death to Christ Himself. This ownership implies a profound discipleship; just as slaves belonged entirely to their masters, believers now belong entirely to Christ, called to serve Him. The context is critical because it is immediately followed by the assertion in verse 17, "whoever is united to the Lord is one with him in spirit." Paul is establishing that this is not a merely legal transfer of ownership, but a spiritual union that impacts the entire person—body, soul, and spirit—in all aspects of life and conduct, especially regarding sexual sin which is presented as sinning against one's own body and against Christ directly.
1 Corinthians 6 15 Commentary
Paul's argument here is that because believers have been purchased by Christ, their entire being, including their physical bodies, is no longer their own property. This was a crucial point against those who might have reasoned that since they were now spiritually "free" in Christ, their physical actions, such as sexual immorality, were inconsequential and did not affect their spiritual standing. Paul declares that the body is an integral part of the redeemed person, and therefore subject to Christ's ownership. This purchase signifies not only redemption from sin but also consecration and the right of ownership by Christ. Believers are to present their bodies as instruments of righteousness, living in a way that honors their Redeemer and reflects the sanctity of their bodies as belonging to Christ. This implies a responsibility for the body's purity and its use in service to God.
Practical Usage Examples:
- When tempted with impure thoughts or desires, a believer can remind themselves: "My body belongs to Christ. I will not let it be used for sin."
- When considering an activity that might be physically or morally degrading, they can ask: "Would I be honoring Christ with my body if I did this?"
- When dedicating themselves to service, they can see their physical strength and abilities as gifts from Christ, to be used for His purposes.