Inheriting the Kingdom - 1 Corinthians 6:10

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (KJV)

Then: Still working on the list, Paul now includes four ("thieves," "covetous," "revilers," and "extortioners") which can encompass court litigants. Thus attacked, Corinthians could respond in shame or anger. The status of their Christian walk would make the difference. If, as some suspect, the lawsuits relate to sexual sin of chapter five, then the previous part of this list also refers specifically to members of the Corinthian Church. Thiselton (p. 440-444) reviews commentators' search for the influence of Graeco-Roman philosophy, Old Testament Jewish thought and Christ's teachings in Paul's list. The cultures were probably intertwined in Paul's knowledge and understanding of vice versus virtue, but the overriding features had to be understandings from Christ.

Now: Paul's method of breaking the heart of staunch sinners is confrontation. More gently, Jesus says, "He who has ears, let him hear." For us, following Christ necessarily involves straightening out inner motives and attitudes. Jesus told us that as a man thinketh, so is he. Sin epiphany, repentance, and true change is not easy. It's a good thing the Lord helps us.

Extra source: 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