1 Corinthians 6:8

Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren (KJV)

Then: Remembering the corruptness of the Roman system, Corinthians may be getting the glimmer of an idea that they themselves are corrupt. They avoid Christ's guidelines, object to participating in a church forum, and depend on the skewed value judgements of non-believers because they know they will win their lawsuits. There's not much difference between themselves and the pagans (Fee, p. 241). It's even worse because they are cheating their brothers in Christ.

Now: Matthew Henry allows a little room for Christians to use the secular law system. If there is a matter such as an unclear boundary line and the two parties amicably agree, then trained lawyers should be called upon to make a determination. There are probably other instances in which the Christians have no choice, but as often as possible they should follow Jesus' words to agree quickly with the opponent lest you lose more than imaginable.

Extra source: The First Epistle to the Corinthians by Gordon D. Fee (Eerdman's 1987) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=XlBp10nUTXAC&dq=Gordon+Fee+Bible+commentator&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=SwLNSu3nA4v6Mf2XlDo&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Commentary on the Whole Bible Acts to Revelation Vol VI by Matthew Henry online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.vii.html

1 Corinthians 6:7

Now 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? (KJV)

Then: Of course, any society which is "busy, busy" accumulating stuff to show off when they get to the top would never abide being defrauded -although, it might give kudos to defrauders. There is an icy hot chasm between Christian values and sophist values. Those with Christian attitudes back away from insistence on personal justice in the same degree that they back away from pride based on assumed superiority. With an undercut thrust Paul uses words from Socratic teaching, not a reference to Jesus. Since it's even below the Sophists to engage in court battles, these churchly Corinthians fail in both venues (Hayes p. 96). In the end, Paul uses the same principles to evaluate a Christian's actions in the field of law as he does in the field of education (Thiselton, p. 436). Giving up rights to vindication matches their abandonment of pride of knowledge.

Now: During class discussion, Lee Magness used the question, "Why not rather be wrong?" as a guiding principle. Good on-going advice for today and necessary as a personal check on behavior and attitudes.

Extra source: The First Epistle to the Corinthians: a commentary on the Greek text by Anthony C. Thiselton (Authentic Media, c2000) online at 717http://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
First Corinthians by Richard B. Hayes (John Knox Press, 1997) on line athttp://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

1 Corinthians 6:6

But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers (KJV)

Then: A tinge of resigned regret secretes itself in these words. While up on top Paul's matter-of-fact statement reemphasizes the shame of brothers appearing before non-believing judges. The Corinthians' desire for gain in power, prestige, or possessions predominated. Their obedience to Christ's command, "Love one another," got left behind somewhere.

Now: Lawsuits pervade American courts at the same time the reputation of laywerhood disintegrates. Everybody's out to get something from somebody. Destroy a company and the livelihood of other workers? Who cares? Jesus stated not to sue. He didn't give any caveats that it would keep someone from doing wrong again, that it would recompense the mistreated court litigant or that the one sued probably wasn't a fellow believer. "Don't sue," he said. Just like the Corinthians we ignore him.

1 Corinthians 6:5

I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? KJV

Then: Culture of the day detested airing family problems in public. You didn't take brotherly disputes into the Roman courts. Paul thinks that the church family should practice the same kind of honor. Keep the disputes private (Hayes, p. 95 and Baker, p. 89). It was beyond shameful that Paul even had to tell them. He follows up with another dig at elitist attitudes. Anybody who is really smart and wise can find amicable ways to resolve petty squabbles.

Now: There are always going to be some poeple who think they are smarter than others. The attitude causes difficulties at both ends. Those scorned must learn endurance, while the lordly must learn humility. Both traits are learned through trial and prayer. Paul's admonitions may occasionally apply specifically, but more often need identification in other situations.

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
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

1 Corinthian 6:4

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church (KJV)

Then: No matter Paul's attitude, the first phrase is fact. Some things belong to heaven's ajudication. Others don't. A man's soul is judged in heaven and, as Paul has already informed the Corinthians, so is faithfulness. Due to the status of the human heart, though, some things require immediate resolution. These situations may overlap into the jurisdiction of eternity, but something needs done now. Paul's sarcastic undertones of the next phrase produce a murky guideline. In secular courts, you get favorable treatment by being friends with a judge, having lots of money and can bribe one, or having so much community prestige that no judge would dare rule against you. Society's least esteemed are those without money, influence, or well-placed friends. Those values should not carry over into the church. The least esteemed in a church would imply those less mature in the faith. Did Paul mean society's least esteemed or the church's least esteemed? Did the Corinthians get it? Maybe. Probably.

Now: We understand Paul's censure. He abhors their "wise, lordly" actions and misunderstandings of freedoms in heaven. But we're left with a questionable guideline. Does Paul mean give the job to those with low esteem in society or in the church? We also know that even the lowly have problems of passion or revenge. Their decisions depend upon Christian maturity. Without definite success, commentators try to figure out if the original Greek was a command or a question (Baker, p. 88). Knowing that answer would help, but without it, we have to use our own minds and conversations with the Lord. Logically that means, "Set them to judge who are the most spiritually mature."

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

"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

I Corinthians 6:2

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (KJV)

Then: Paul didn't like lawsuits which stirred up social unrest (Thiselton, p. 421) inside and outside of the church. Unstated, but addressed by commentators is Corinthian knowledge of the social conditions of civil courts. Paul didn't need to list all that; he wanted to work on motives and solutions. So, instead he twisted their pretzels - sort of and in a good way. Earlier (I Corin. 4:8) he'd crimped their pride by deriding their premature stance of reigning with Christ in judgement. In a rhetorical switch, he lifts up their pride and expects them to get it together and formally judge fellow saints.

Now: We all have days when we can't do anything right. Get in trouble if you do something; get in trouble if you don't do something. The key is the word "unworthy." That gets to feelings and motives. If we speak fairly about the actions of another, and if we first speak directly to the person, all is well. Being fair works in formal courts of law and in personal situations. What doesn't work is speaking for the purposes of personal gain. That usually involves bending or twisting the truth, a highly "unworthy" act.

Jesus taught his disciples that when he sits on the throne, they would judge tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:18). The conjunction of Paul's and Christ's teachings allow for "great" conversations about whether or not the saints will judge with Christ. Adam Clarke says "no," since Christ probably doesn't need any help. He thinks Christ refers to the a fulfiment of Daniel's prophesy (Daniel 7:18 and 27) in which Christians would take all judgments on earth. Current commentators are more interested in how the "down-to-earth" details of Paul's teaching affected the daily actions of Corinthians (Thiselton, p. 419).

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=Corinthians+commentary&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=6NZZS4ODFpDe8Qba6oDtBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CDIQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Clarke's Commentary - I Corinthians 6; Clarkes Commentary on the Whole Bible by Adam C. Clarke (1760-1762) online at http://www.godrules.net/library/clarke/clarke1cor6.htm

1 Corinthians 6:1

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (KJV)

Then: If Paul was incensed before, now he's outraged. How in the world did the Corinthians think that Christ would approve their appeal to secular authorities? He writes with a sense of dampened anger. Actually it's a good thing he's not in Corinth where everyone would get a tongue lashing. Some Jewish Christians knew the system of priests, not Romans, taking care of internal affairs (Baker, p. 87). In addition, cases before the Bema (Judgment seat) were biased towards the rich and influential (Collins, p. 226). Better results could be attained within the church "before the saints."

Now: Our communities are so large that few church contentions make national news. On the other hand, however, even if a dispute stays at a local or county justice level, information discussed, attitudes revealed or names dragged in can influence the openness of neighbors to the gospel message. Why bother to take part in church events or beliefs when civil problems look just like those of non-Christians? The reputation of the church is still important to its mission.

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.
First Corinthians by Raymond F. Collins and Daniel J. Harrington (Collegeville MN: Liturgical Press, c1999) http://books.google.com/books?id=c4VXq9fKoRwC&dq=Sacra+Pagina+and+1st+Corinthians&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=NqEJS7XzEITklAeejdiEBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11&ved=0CDUQ6AEwCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false