1 Corinthians 6:1
What does 1 Corinthians 6:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:1 means
Paul expresses shock that Christians would take personal disputes to secular courts rather than seeking resolution within the church. By calling these courts “unrighteous,” he highlights that their judges do not share the values of God’s people. The issue is not the existence of disagreements, but where and how they are handled. Lawsuits before outsiders treat fellow believers as enemies rather than family and risk dragging Christ’s name through public conflict. Paul wants them to recognize that God has supplied wisdom within the church for such matters. Turning first to the world’s tribunals shows a failure to live as a holy community shaped by the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949How is it, that if any one of you has a cause at law against another, he takes it before a Gentile judge and not before the saints?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Dare any one of you, having a matter with the other, go to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust: and not before the saints?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Dare any one of you, having a matter against another, prosecute his suit before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Context
This opening verse launches Paul’s correction of a troubling practice in Corinth. After dealing with internal discipline in the previous section of the letter, he now addresses believers suing one another. Verses 2–3 will ground his rebuke in the church’s future destiny to judge the world and angels. Verses 4–6 will press the shamefulness of going before unbelievers. The flow aims to move them from shock, to theological perspective, to practical change.
v.1This passage
v.2Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.
- 1 Corinthians 14:33
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
- Matthew 18:15
And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- Acts 18:14
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
- 1 Corinthians 1:2
unto the church of God which is at Corinth, eventhem that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, calledto besaints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, theirLordand ours:
- Acts 19:38
If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
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