1 Corinthians 6 7

1 Corinthians 6:7 kjv

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

1 Corinthians 6:7 nkjv

Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?

1 Corinthians 6:7 niv

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

1 Corinthians 6:7 esv

To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

1 Corinthians 6:7 nlt

Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?

1 Corinthians 6 verses

1 Corinthians 6 7 meaning

The existence of lawsuits among believers is in itself a complete spiritual defeat and a serious reproach to their Christian identity and witness. Rather than seeking worldly justice and vindication, believers should consider enduring injustice and being cheated, reflecting a radical Christian ethic of selfless love and unity.

1 Corinthians 6 7 Context

This verse is situated within a broader section (1 Cor 6:1-8) where Paul confronts the Corinthian believers for bringing legal disputes against one another before pagan civil courts. The chapter begins with an emphatic condemnation of this practice, arguing that Christians should be capable of judging their own internal affairs through the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. Paul asserts that relying on "unrighteous" worldly judges not only defiles the church but also contradicts the spiritual authority believers are to exercise (even over angels). He questions their lack of spiritual maturity and leadership. Verse 7, then, serves as a rhetorical climax, declaring that the very act of resorting to such lawsuits signifies a fundamental spiritual defeat and shame. It paves the way for his radical ethical challenge: it is far better to suffer injustice or be cheated than to damage the testimony of Christ and the unity of the church through public legal battles among brothers and sisters in Christ. This issue reflects the broader concerns throughout the letter regarding division, immaturity, and the Corinthian church's adoption of worldly standards. Culturally, lawsuits were common in Roman Corinth, but for Christians, this action had profound theological and community implications.

1 Corinthians 6 7 Word analysis

• ἤδη (ēdē): already, by now. Emphasizes the immediate, current state of defeat. It's not a potential future consequence, but a present reality.
• μὲν οὖν (men oun): indeed therefore, then. Connects the thought to the preceding argument, establishing the logical conclusion or summation.
• ὅλως (holōs): altogether, completely, absolutely. Amplifies the degree of defeat. It's not a partial or minor setback, but a total failure.
• ἥττημα (hēttēma): defeat, loss, being worsted. Derives from hēttaomai, to be defeated. In a spiritual sense, it denotes moral and communal failure, a forfeiture of Christ's standards, not necessarily losing a court case.
• ὑμῖν (hymin): to/for you. A dative pronoun, signifying the defeat directly affects and belongs to the Corinthians.
• ἐστιν (estin): it is, there is. A simple copula, affirming the reality of the defeat.
• ὅτι (hoti): because, that. Introduces the reason for their complete defeat: the presence of lawsuits.
• κρίματα (krimata): lawsuits, judgments, legal cases. Refers specifically to legal disputes brought before secular tribunals.
• ἔχετε (echete): you have. Denotes the possession or existence of these legal cases among them.
• μεθ' ἑαυτῶν (meth' heautōn): among yourselves, with one another. Clearly specifies that these disputes are internal to the Christian community, between believers.
• διὰ τί (dia ti): why? For what reason?. A rhetorical question introducing Paul's challenge, seeking to redirect their perspective.
• οὐχὶ (ouchi): not, isn't it? An emphatic negative particle, part of the rhetorical question, suggesting a clear alternative should be preferred.
• μᾶλλον (mallon): rather, instead, more. Urges a preference for the proposed alternative.
• ἀδικεῖσθε (adikeisthe): be wronged, suffer injustice. A present passive indicative, suggesting a willingness to allow injustice to happen to them rather than retaliate.
• ἀποστερεῖσθε (aposterēsthe): be defrauded, cheated, deprived of. Also a present passive indicative, paralleling adikeisthe and emphasizing the acceptance of material loss without seeking redress.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The very fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves means you have been completely defeated already." (ἤδη μὲν οὖν ὅλως ἥττημα ὑμῖν ἐστιν ὅτι κρίματα ἔχετε μεθ' ἑαυτῶν): This entire clause presents Paul's condemnation. The "already" and "completely" highlight the grave and immediate spiritual consequences of their actions. The existence of these lawsuits, taken before pagan judges, signals a profound failure in Christian love, wisdom, and witness, undermining the very nature of their redeemed community. The spiritual damage of this internal strife is far greater than any perceived personal gain from a legal victory.
• "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" (Διὰ τί οὐχὶ μᾶλλον ἀδικεῖσθε; διὰ τί οὐχὶ μᾶλλον ἀποστερεῖσθε;): These rhetorical questions offer a radical, counter-cultural solution. Paul challenges them to embrace the teachings of Christ regarding non-retaliation and enduring suffering. This willingness to absorb personal loss and injustice, without seeking worldly vindication, aligns believers with Christ's self-sacrificial love and demonstrates spiritual maturity, prioritizing communal peace and the honor of God over personal rights. The repetition of the questions emphasizes the extraordinary nature of this command.

1 Corinthians 6 7 Bonus section

• The instruction in this verse should be understood within the specific context of disputes between believers taken to pagan courts for personal property or financial gain. It is not an absolute prohibition against all forms of legal recourse in all situations (e.g., if a believer is the victim of a crime, or needs legal protection against a genuine external threat, or to ensure justice for the vulnerable, or matters not directly involving conflict between two believers in the church). The crucial distinction lies in the damage to the church's internal life and external testimony caused by believers litigating against other believers.
• Paul's argument implicitly prioritizes the communal witness of the church and the honor of Christ over an individual's "rights" or material welfare. This reorients Christian values away from individualistic consumerism or self-preservation to self-sacrificing love and corporate identity.
• This passage highlights the expectation that the Christian community, empowered by the Spirit, should possess sufficient wisdom and spiritual authority to adjudicate internal matters, rendering recourse to "unrighteous" outsiders unnecessary and shameful.

1 Corinthians 6 7 Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:7 stands as a powerful indictment and a radical call to Christian living. Paul decries the very existence of legal disputes between believers, seeing it not merely as a minor disagreement, but as an absolute "defeat" for the Corinthian church. This defeat isn't about losing a case, but about the profound compromise of their faith, witness, and love. Resorting to pagan courts to resolve internal conflicts exposes the church's spiritual immaturity and mocks the Spirit-given wisdom that should be present within their community.

The core of Paul's message is a profound challenge to sacrifice personal rights and material possessions for the greater good of the church's unity and its witness to the world. His rhetorical questions, "Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?" cut to the heart of Christian ethics, echoing Jesus' teachings on turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. This requires humility, selfless love, and a focus on eternal values over temporal gains. It signifies a profound trust in God's ultimate justice, rather than relying on human legal systems that often operate outside divine principles. While this verse primarily addresses believers suing each other over property/financial matters, its principle encourages a Christ-like posture of humility and forbearance in various inter-personal conflicts, fostering reconciliation and preserving the sanctity of Christian fellowship.