1 Corinthians 6:11
What does 1 Corinthians 6:11 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:11 means
Paul delivers a tender but decisive reminder: many of them once lived in those very sins, but God changed them. They “were washed,” pointing to cleansing from defilement; they “were sanctified,” set apart for God; and they “were justified,” declared righteous—all “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” and by “the Spirit of our God.” Their new status came from Christ’s saving work applied by the Spirit, not their own merit. This identity is the ground for leaving old patterns. Grace does not blur moral lines; it creates new people. Remembering what God has done fuels humility, gratitude, and the resolve to live consistently with the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And such were some of you; but you have been washed, you have been made holy, you have been given righteousness in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And certain of you were these! but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were declared righteous, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And these things were some of you; but ye have been washed, but ye have been sanctified, but ye have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of ourGod.
Context
After the severe warning of verses 9–10, verse 11 offers hope rooted in the gospel. The transformation language bridges the first half of the chapter (lawsuits and injustice) to the second (liberty and sexual ethics). Because believers have been cleansed, set apart, and declared righteous in Christ, they must not return to the old ways. Verses 12–20 will unpack how this new identity governs bodily conduct and the wise exercise of freedom.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 1:16
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
- Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
- Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.
- 1 Peter 4:2
that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
- Isaiah 45:25
In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
- Ephesians 5:8
for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
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