1 Corinthians 6:15
What does 1 Corinthians 6:15 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:15 means
Christians’ bodies are “members of Christ”—joined to Him. To unite a believer’s body with a prostitute would imply joining Christ to that union, an unthinkable profaning of His holiness and our fellowship with Him. Paul’s reasoning rests on real, embodied union with the Lord, not mere ideas. Believers do not own their bodies as autonomous units; they are connected to Christ’s very life. Therefore sexual acts are never spiritually neutral. They carry covenantal meaning that must align with our union to Christ. Paul’s strong language guards the honor of the Lord and the integrity of the believer’s relationship with Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do you not see that your bodies are part of the body of Christ? how then may I take what is a part of the body of Christ and make it a part of the body of a loose woman? such a thing may not be.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Have ye not known that your bodies are members of Christ? having taken, then, the members of the Christ, shall I make <FI>them<Fi> members of an harlot? let it be not!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid!
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Do ye not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then, taking the members of the Christ, make [them] members of a harlot? Far be the thought.
Context
Having affirmed the body’s resurrection future (v. 14), Paul now argues from present union with Christ. Verse 15 asserts this identity and draws a shocking implication to display the gravity of sexual sin. Verse 16 will support the point from Scripture’s teaching about becoming “one flesh” in sexual union, and verse 17 will contrast this with being “one spirit” with the Lord. The logic is cumulative and pastoral.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 3:3
For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?
- Romans 12:5
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.
- Ephesians 5:30
because we are members of his body.
- Romans 7:13
Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good;—that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27
Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.
- Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
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