Inheriting the Kingdom - 1 Corinthians 6:9

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (KJV)

Then: Paul's statements about lawsuits are more than reminders that the unrighteous will not make it to heaven. It's a shock to the heart of Corinthians taking these particular remarks lightly. He's including them in a list of unrighteous degenerates. That meant using secular courts to defraud others, especially believers, put them in dangerous company.

Now: The last "Don't you know?' rhetorical question (Collins, p. 228) is like the first in verse 2. Both bring up eschatologic or end-of-the world issues. Fee (p. 242) refers to the problem of how it can be that anyone who is already saved will not - according to this verse - have a part in the kingdom. He doesn't try to reconcile the conflict, but does state the verse is addressed to the whole church community.

Extra source: 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
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

1 Corinthians 6:2 & 3

Then and Now:

Curiosity along with the search for knowledge about the after life puts focus on questions about who's judging who when we ascend to be with Christ. Some of these ideas are summarized in Thiselton (p. 424-427). They don't really interest me, but if you want more detail and greater clarity, use the link below, read what was said, go to the bibliographies, and search for as long as you want. Blessings.

1. They'll condemn all who refused to believe in Christ. It's not a matter of judging right and wrong.

2. Eusebius thinks only martyrs will join in the judging; Paul seems to say everyone will.

3. The judgement is not an individual effort. It comes from the total church, joined with Christ. In that sense Christ himself is the true judge.

4. Judgement of angels means those who are with Satan. Or, judgement of the angels means judgment of all of them because man will be with Christ who is above all.

1 Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God (KJV)

Then: Here is the guideline for behavior and conscience. Paul knows that some of what is hidden is unworthy, but is more interested in the positive. The heart's counselor will and can lead everyone to do good. Those who are faithful and do the work which the Spirit commends will receive praise in heaven. Corinthians can avoid the sins of ommision and commision just by listening to the Holy Spirit. Concluding the context of doing the work of a steward (Fee, p. 162) from verse one, the employer is the only one with the ability and right to judge a servant's work. Paul is the Lord's servant. The Corinthians are the Lord's servants. He alone has the right to judge them all.

Now: God continues to judge the secret motives of mankind (Hodge, p. 68). True enough that the tongue can reveal a man's thoughts, but it can also get tangled, cause embarrassment and never let a real truth of a man's intentions emerge. Neither can actions reveal intentions and desires. A corollary problem is figuring out how a person might behave if they had better information or beliefs. Only the Lord has the ability to judge rightly. If we pray and speak out in order to raise up a fellow human being, then our consciences are clear. If we speak to denigrate and destroy another individual, then our personal judgement in heaven lies ahead. Memorizing this verse is a good action plan.

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 First Epistle to the Corinthians by Charles Hodge (Grand Rapids MI: Eerdman's, c1950, 1995) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=p_eicwvOhUAC&dq=Corinthians+commentary+Hodge&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=N5y0XtoVzJ&sig=ho-hOQGsur5Q_AT-t9joFxZjDrc&hl=en&ei=jtQ4S8-tHdOhlAf_t9GeBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

I Corinthians 4:4

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord (KJV)

Then: Paul examined his conscience and found nothing wrong. Actually, some Corinthians could take that stament and twist it. Maybe Paul couldn't see his transgressions, but they could. That's why Paul continues on to say that wasn't the final decision (Fee, p. 161). He could be wrong about his conduct, but the only one who could judge accurately was the Lord. Henry also notes a sense of tacit reproval which Paul directs towards the Corinthians. ("The Lord can judge me, you can't.")

Now: Writers at the Koinonia Christian Fellowship bring up the inadequacies of conscience in personal judgement. A common phrase is "Let your conscience be your guide." The problem is that consciences may cause guilt over things that are not your fault and conversely let you overlook other issues which definitely need correction. Consciences need to be trained through Bible study, interaction with fellow humans and submission before the Lord. When he has our attention, we can steadily move into a condition of being more faithful, trustworthy, and productive servants.

Extra sources: The First Epistle to the Corinthians by Gordon D. Fee (Eerdman's 1987) online 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 Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) by Matthew Henry, online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.v.html
1 Corinthians 4 - Devotional & Commentary posted on November 19th, 2009 by Debbie Fitz in Devotions, Syndicated (Koinonia Christian Fellowship at UT Austin) online http://www.koinoniatexas.org/2009/11/1-corinthians-4-%e2%80%93-devotional-commentary/

Judgement - 1 Corinthians 4:3

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self (KJV)

Then: Paul knows they've been criticising him. That surely hurt from an earthly standpoint, but he couldn't let it. Paul's job was to please the Lord and satisfy the requirements of his own job description. In God's plan of salvation and work of teaching the gospel, disparagement was just one of those things which had to be ignored as inconsequential to him - but not to them. What the Corinthians were doing was against the work of the church.

Now: Evaluation for the sake of improving the work of the church is necessary. Evaluation based on a belief that you've already reached the place where men will even judge angels has not arrived. What is the desire of the heart. Is it one of anger or bitterness? It should match Paul's hope that those he teaches overcome any faultfinding opinions and concentrate on joyfully helping fellow human beings to serve within the kingdom.

Faithfulness - I Corinthians 4:2

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful (KJV)

Then: For all the anti-Pauline Corinthians, Paul presents a measuring standard. Check out the faithfulness of the steward. That's a primary requirement. The Corinthians might have wondered why this was the only standard offered - what about accuracy? temperance? gravity? humility? generosity? purity? or teaching skills? Paul wasn't just in a hurry to move the Corinthians on to seeing their error. He wanted just one standard which only Christ could fully evaluate (Fee, p. 160). Any standard can be partially viewed by fellow believers, but faithfulness is best understood as being in the purview of the Lord. He could judge much better than they.

Now: Even today there are those of us who judge the work of Paul, the apostle. They dislike the teachings (women's place in creation), so look for flaws in the teacher. That's easy to do, since he was human. For those who judge the Lord's servants whether they are stewards, doorkeepers or dishwashers, the standard is the same --Faithfulness. Fully advised through detailed Bible studies, today's judges may be surprised enough to change their minds about Paul. At the very least, they move more cautiously through their thoughts.

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