"Judging Angels" - 1 Corinthians 6:3

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (KJV)

Then: Judging angels. That grabbed their attention. In order to sway minds, Paul resorts to eschatology (spin theories of the last days). Hays (p. 93) thinks there is no support for Paul's assertion. It's just an absurdity to highlight a more important problem: Anyone who is judging with Christ should have no trouble dealing with local, ordinary problems of life in one small, Corinthian church. Another enigma of these three verses is "Who's against who?" They might be men of property. They might be leaders of the congregation. They might also be men with follow-up controversies from chapter five.

Now: Grammar problems make today's scholars wonder if the translation should be as a question, a command, or an exclamation. Thiselton (p. 443) thinks interogative is the best choice and additionally, finds inferences that the disputes only relate to low status problems. Perhaps Paul is speaking sarcastically to the Corinthians who think they can judge angels, but really can't. That may not be a given in eternity since in eternity's state of perfection, all that mankind will do is unified with the mind of Christ. The "judging" will have been completed (Coffman). The angels cause some really odd problems. A study of first century attitudes about them is a side topic for someone else. Interesting, but totally time consuming. I just have to be satisfied with understanding Paul's intent to let the Corinthians - and us when necessary - know that the reputation of the church is more important than personal satisfactions of being considered "right." If there is not a mutually acceptable resolution to a problem after following Christ's direction concerning disputes, then just let it go.

Extra source: First Corinthians by Richard B. Hayes (John Knox Press, 1997) on line at http://books.google.com/books?id=M_PC0PAs3VYC&dq=1+Corinthians+and+Richard+B.+Hays&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=2oPcStDCIIvf8Aaq0Ki3BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CCMQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=1%20Corinthians%20and%20Richard%20B.%20Hays&f=false
The First Epistle to the Corinthians: a commentary on the Greek text by Anthony C. Thiselton (Authentic Media, c2000) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=IHG_DNLpmroC&dq=1st+Corinthian+commentaries&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=W9fQSpC1GILplAfHiumoCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CB8Q6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament (Abilene Christian University Heartlight's Search God's Word) online at http://www.searchgodsword.org/com/bcc/view.cgi?book=1co&chapter=006