1 Corinthians 6:7
What does 1 Corinthians 6:7 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 6:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 6:7 means
Paul declares that the mere fact of lawsuits among believers is already a loss. Even a favorable verdict cannot undo the damage done to unity and witness. He then asks two piercing questions: Why not rather accept being wronged or defrauded? He calls Christians to consider the path of voluntary self-denial to preserve peace. This is not a command to enable abuse or ignore justice in serious matters, but a summons to absorb minor losses rather than escalate conflicts. The gospel frees believers from demanding their rights at all costs, because Christ’s honor and the good of His people outweigh personal vindication.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now 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?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949More than this, it is not to your credit to have causes at law with one another at all. Why not put up with wrong? why not undergo loss?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Already, indeed, then, there is altogether a fault among you, that ye have judgments with one another; wherefore do ye not rather suffer injustice? wherefore be ye not rather defrauded?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Already indeed there is plainly a fault among you, that you have law suits one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Already indeed then it is altogether a fault in you that ye have suits between yourselves. Why do ye not rather suffer wrong? why are ye not rather defrauded?
Context
With the problem exposed (v. 6), Paul proposes a radically different ethic in verse 7. He reframes success as faithfulness, not courtroom victory. Verse 8 will immediately expose their failure to live this way—they are not merely suffering wrong but committing it. That diagnosis prepares for the vice list in verses 9–10, warning that persistent, unrepentant injustice is incompatible with inheriting God’s kingdom.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 4:1
Whence comewars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?
- Luke 6:29
To him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.
- Hosea 10:2
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15
See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
- Proverbs 20:22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
- Romans 12:17
Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
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