1 Corinthians 6 18

1 Corinthians 6:18 kjv

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:18 nkjv

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:18 niv

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

1 Corinthians 6:18 esv

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:18 nlt

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

1 Corinthians 6 verses

1 Corinthians 6 18 Meaning

This verse is a direct and urgent command to shun all forms of sexual immorality. It emphasizes the unique and severe nature of this sin compared to other transgressions, highlighting that sexual sin is a violation against one's own physical body, which is understood in the context of Paul's teachings as being intrinsically connected to the spirit and belonging to Christ.

1 Corinthians 6 18 Context

1 Corinthians chapter 6 begins with Paul reprimanding the Corinthians for taking legal disputes against fellow believers to secular courts, urging them to judge matters within the community. He then transitions to addressing moral issues prevalent in Corinth. After condemning covetousness, theft, and particularly sexual immorality (v. 9-10), he reminds them of their past condition and their present sanctified status in Christ (v. 11). The subsequent verses (12-20) specifically address the issue of sexual immorality. Some Corinthians were likely misinterpreting "all things are lawful for me" (v. 12) as license for sexual promiscuity, perhaps arguing that bodily desires, like eating, are temporary and morally neutral. Paul refutes this, distinguishing between physical needs (like food for the stomach, which will pass away) and the body's spiritual purpose as united with Christ. He highlights that a believer's body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord (v. 13-14), because it is a member of Christ's body and a temple of the Holy Spirit (v. 15, 19). Verse 18 is thus a strong, conclusive command stemming from this foundational understanding of the believer's identity and belonging in Christ, setting sexual sin apart due to its unique affront to this sacred union. Culturally, Corinth was a major port city known for its rampant sexual permissiveness and cultic prostitution, which presented a direct challenge to the fledgling Christian community.

1 Corinthians 6 18 Word analysis

• Flee (Greek: pheugo, φεύγω): This verb implies a rapid, urgent, and complete departure from something dangerous. It suggests that one should not stand and debate or consider but immediately put distance between oneself and sexual immorality. It denotes an active, deliberate escape, rather than just passive avoidance.
• Fornication (Greek: porneia, πορνεία): This is a comprehensive term for all types of illicit sexual activity. It encompasses premarital sex, adultery, prostitution, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality, as well as cultic prostitution common in Greco-Roman paganism. It represents any sexual activity outside the bounds of a monogamous heterosexual marriage, as ordained by God. Its breadth underscores the radical call to purity in the early Christian movement amidst pagan sensuality.
• Every (Greek: pas, πᾶς): This signifies that the command to flee applies universally to every kind of sexual immorality without exception or qualification. It leaves no room for justification or lesser degrees of sin in this category.
• Sin (Greek: hamartia, ἁμαρτία): Refers to missing the mark, falling short of God's standard, or an act of rebellion against divine law. Here, it denotes sexual transgression as a specific and serious offense.
• That a man does (Greek: poiēsas anthrōpos, ποιήσας ἄνθρωπος): This highlights human agency and responsibility in committing the sin.
• Is outside the body: This phrase sets sexual immorality apart from other sins in a unique way. While other sins like theft, greed, or idolatry impact a person's life, possessions, or relationships, they are not committed with or in the same direct, integrated physical way that porneia is. Sexual sin fundamentally involves a merging or binding of physical beings, violating the very essence of bodily integrity as a member of Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit.
• But (Greek: alla, ἀλλά): A strong adversative conjunction that signals a sharp contrast and introduces a critically important distinction.
• He who commits fornication (Greek: ho porneuōn, ὁ πορνεύων): Specifically targets the individual engaging in this particular sin. The present participle suggests a continuing action or practice, though it can refer to a singular act.
• Sins against his own body: This is the crux of the verse. Unlike other sins which may involve the body but do not inherently defile the essence of one's being in the same way, porneia involves a complete giving of oneself, physically and spiritually, in an unholy union. This violates the sacred purpose of the body as belonging to Christ (1 Cor 6:15) and housing the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), bringing defilement and dishonor to the very vessel God inhabits. It affects one's own self profoundly—spiritually, physically, and often psychologically.

1 Corinthians 6 18 Bonus section

The historical and cultural context of Corinth reinforces the gravity of Paul's command. Corinth was notorious for its hedonism and rampant sexual permissiveness. The temple of Aphrodite on the Acrocorinth, dedicated to the goddess of love, was associated with cultic prostitution, which legitimized sexual promiscuity within religious practice. This background meant that the believers in Corinth were constantly exposed to and challenged by deeply ingrained societal norms that contradicted biblical sexual ethics. Paul's command to "flee porneia" was thus not a mild suggestion but a radical call to counter-cultural holiness, signifying a complete break from the prevailing pagan lifestyle and a reorientation of one's entire being towards Christ. The emphasis on "sinning against one's own body" served as a powerful polemic against the Corinthian worldview that might have separated bodily actions from spiritual consequences or viewed the body as inconsequential. Paul teaches that the body is inherently significant and interwoven with one's spiritual reality and standing before God.

1 Corinthians 6 18 Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:18 delivers an unequivocal command to "Flee from sexual immorality." The urgency conveyed by "flee" (pheugo) reflects the potent and deeply ensnaring nature of porneia. Paul's exhortation is not to simply avoid or passively resist, but to actively escape, implying that direct confrontation or lingering near temptation is highly dangerous.

The core distinction Paul makes is that "every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." This statement has often been debated, but its profound meaning within this context lies in the unique intertwining of sexual activity with one's physical and spiritual identity in Christ. While theft, murder, or lying are transgressions committed by the body, their primary impact, from Paul's perspective here, might be considered "external" or primarily impacting others/external things. Sexual sin, however, is presented as an inherently self-destructive act, a defilement of the very vessel consecrated to God. It involves a deeply intimate union (v. 16, "becomes one body") which, if misdirected, profoundly violates the personal identity as "members of Christ" (v. 15) and "a temple of the Holy Spirit" (v. 19). The body, a sacred dwelling place, is not meant to be joined to a prostitute or defiled through illicit acts. Therefore, sinning against one's own body in this specific context means to profane that which is holy and to violate one's unique relationship with the Lord and the Spirit. It carries a deeply personal and spiritual injury to the self, beyond external consequences, impeding one's communion with God and inviting judgment. Practically, this implies that maintaining sexual purity is not merely an external rule, but a deeply internal discipline crucial for spiritual health and integrity with one's identity in Christ. For example, knowing one's body is a temple discourages engaging in any form of porneia, and also prompts actively setting boundaries to prevent temptation.