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 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 6:1 | Does any one of you, when he has a matter against another, dare to bring it before the unrighteous...? | Paul asks a rhetorical question rebuking such practice. |
| Matt 18:15-17 | If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone... | Jesus provides the principle for resolving disputes within the community. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you... | Paul calls for unity and reconciliation, a prerequisite for resolving disputes internally. |
| Gal 5:14 | For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” | Love for one another is the foundation for resolving disagreements peaceably. |
| Eph 4:1-3 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love... | Bearing with each other in love is key to maintaining peace and preventing external litigation. |
| Col 3:12-13 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you... | Forgiveness and patience are essential tools for internal conflict resolution. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love is presented as a powerful force in overcoming disputes. |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | This verse encourages believers to be peacemakers, minimizing external conflict. |
| John 13:35 | By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Internal harmony and the ability to resolve disputes are hallmarks of genuine discipleship. |
| 1 Cor 5:1-5 | It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you... hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved. | Paul deals with internal matters of discipline within the church, not external legal means. |
| Prov 20:3 | A man's pride brings him low, but he who is humble in spirit will obtain honor. | Pride often fuels the desire to prove oneself right in a public forum. |
| Prov 20:22 | Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. | This Old Testament proverb echoes the New Testament call to leave vengeance to God. |
| Ex 22:25-27 | If you lend money to any of my people with you, you shall not be to him as a creditor, and you shall not demand from him interest. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for it is his only covering... | Old Testament law provided mechanisms for dealing with disputes and ensuring justice, often prioritizing reconciliation. |
| Deut 19:16-19 | If a false witness rises against a man to testify against him of wrongdoing... | Legal matters were handled within the community, and false accusations carried significant penalties. |
| Acts 6:1-6 | Now in these days when the number of the disciples was increasing, a complaint by the Hellenists against the native Hebrews arose... And they chose Stephen... whom they set before the apostles... | Early church had established methods for handling internal disputes and administration without resorting to secular courts. |
| Phil 1:27 | Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel... | Worthy conduct includes how believers handle disputes amongst themselves. |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. | Suing each other would contradict their ambassadorship and call to reconciliation. |
| 1 Cor 11:34 | ...if you desire to eat, eat at home, so that when you come together it will not be to your judgment. | Paul refers to disorder in their gatherings, of which litigation would be a part of that judgment. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. | Trusting in God’s way implies not relying on worldly legal systems for resolution. |
| Rom 14:1-4 | As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables... | While this is about dietary disputes, the principle of seeking unity and not judging or quarreling over differences applies. |
1 Corinthians 6 verses
1 Corinthians 6 7 Meaning
This verse directly addresses a significant issue within the Corinthian church: believers suing each other in secular courts. Paul unequivocally states that this is a failure of the believers, specifically highlighting that it reveals a lack of wisdom. It points to a deficiency in the body of Christ’s ability to resolve internal disputes according to God’s principles, thus falling short of presenting a unified testimony to the world. The very act of bringing a brother before unbelievers exposes a deeper spiritual malaise, undermining the church's witness.
1 Corinthians 6 7 Context
In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul is addressing a broad spectrum of moral and practical issues within the Corinthian church. The preceding verses (6:1-6) condemn believers suing fellow believers in pagan, secular courts. Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan city known for its wealth, immorality, and legalistic populace. The Gentile culture prevalent in Corinth often resorted to litigation to settle disputes. The Corinthian believers, many of whom were new converts, were seemingly falling back into these worldly practices. Paul’s argument here stems from the radical reorientation that Christian conversion entails: believers are now part of God’s kingdom and subject to His rule, which includes specific principles for resolving disputes within the community. Suing in secular courts indicated a failure to live by these new kingdom principles and a lack of trust in God's provision for justice and peace within the church.
1 Corinthians 6 7 Word Analysis
"It is altogether a defect" (Hebrew: Hettēma)
- Hettēma refers to a fault, a deficiency, a failing, a loss, or a defeat.
- This word highlights that suing a brother is not a minor infraction but a fundamental failing in the life and witness of the church. It indicates a lack of maturity and a lapse in adhering to Christian principles.
"among you" (Greek: en hymîn)
- This signifies that the problem is internal to the Corinthian church, happening within the community.
- It is not an external attack but a failure of the body of believers itself.
"that you have lawsuits one against another" (Greek: krímas echéte pros allēlous)
- Kríma can mean a lawsuit, judgment, or a condemnation.
- The use of this term suggests that going to the secular courts is a form of judgment, but a flawed and inappropriate one when directed at fellow believers.
"Why do you not rather take wrong?" (Greek: ti ou malon adeliphthēte adikēsthai)
- Adeliphthēte comes from adikéō, meaning to do wrong, to injure, or to inflict injustice. The passive voice suggests "to be wronged" or "to suffer injustice."
- Paul is asking rhetorically why they don't choose to endure hardship or unfairness rather than escalate conflict externally. This is a challenge to their spiritual fortitude and commitment to reconciliation.
"Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?" (Greek: ti ou malon apostereîsthai)
- Apostereîsthai means to be deprived of, to be defrauded, or to be cheated.
- This expands on the previous point, suggesting a willingness to bear financial loss or material injustice for the sake of peace and Christian fellowship.
"or rather" (Greek: alla malon)
- This introduces a stronger, more desirable alternative.
"nay" (Greek: all')
- This emphatic particle signifies "instead," "but rather," strongly contrasting the negative action (suing) with the positive alternative.
"Why not suffer injustice?" (Greek: adeliphthēte is repeated for emphasis, implying a strong exhortation)
- The repetition underscores the priority of enduring wrongs over seeking worldly redress.
Words Group Analysis:
- "altogether a defect... lawsuits one against another": This phrase pairs the assessment of the situation (a defect) with the action causing it (suing one another). It establishes that the legal action is the proof and manifestation of the church's deficiency.
- "take wrong... suffer yourselves to be defrauded": These are presented as alternative courses of action. They are presented in parallel, both representing a submission to injustice rather than its pursuit through external means. The progressive phrasing "rather take wrong... rather suffer defrauded" suggests an increasing willingness to yield and forgive.
1 Corinthians 6 7 Bonus Section
The apostle Paul's argument here is rooted in the new identity of believers. They are no longer citizens of the fallen world system, but subjects of God's kingdom. Therefore, their recourse for disputes must reflect that kingdom’s values. This verse also touches upon the nature of Christian witness. When believers engage in lawsuits against each other in secular courts, it provides grounds for unbelievers to slander the name of Christ and His church, implying that Christians are no more capable of resolving their differences than the unrighteous. Furthermore, this principle can extend beyond the legal realm to any form of internecine conflict where worldly means of escalation are considered instead of seeking wisdom and reconciliation within the church. The concept of bearing loss is not about passive resignation but a strategic yielding for the higher purpose of love and unity, demonstrating an often counter-cultural Christian ethic.
1 Corinthians 6 7 Commentary
Paul's reprimand in 1 Corinthians 6:7 is a powerful call for internal conflict resolution and self-sacrifice within the church. He identifies the act of suing a fellow believer in pagan courts as a fundamental failure, indicating a loss of spiritual integrity and a lack of kingdom consciousness. Instead of pursuing worldly justice, which alienates the body of Christ and witnesses against its calling, believers are urged to be willing to endure wrong and suffer financial loss. This doesn't negate the existence of justice, but it reorients the believer's approach, prioritizing reconciliation and the unity of the church over personal vindication or material gain. It's about embodying the character of Christ, who "for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame" (Hebrews 12:2), and following His example of bearing injustice for the sake of a greater purpose. The Christian community is meant to be a functioning family, resolving disagreements through love, forgiveness, and reliance on the Spirit, not through the adversarial systems of the fallen world.