ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Corinthians 6

1 Cor. 6:1 a grievance against another. Paul seems to be addressing disputes related to property or money (compare “Why not rather be defrauded?” v. 7). Disputes between believers should be handled wisely and carefully (vv. 1–8) before the watching world. Wherever possible, they should be settled under the authority of the church itself (see Matt. 18:15–20). the unrighteous. Probably judges who are unbelievers (see 1 Cor. 6:4, 6) and at times unjust.

1 Cor. 6:2–3 saints will judge the world. . . . angels. See Dan. 7:22; Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30. The people of God will participate with Christ in the final day of judgment.

1 Cor. 6:7–8 suffer wrong. . . . wrong. These terms translate the same Greek verb. Paul used the adjectival form of this verb in v. 1 to describe the “unrighteous” judges. This implies that the Corinthians are acting like unbelievers.

1 Cor. 6:9–10 Paul’s use of the word unrighteous (the same Greek word discussed in the note on vv. 7–8) implies that those who act just like the unbelieving world may not be “saints” (v. 1) at all. See also 2 Cor. 13:5.

1 Cor. 6:11 washed. Spiritual cleansing from the guilt and power of sin (see Titus 3:5). This cleansing is symbolized in the “washing” of baptism (Acts 22:16). sanctified. An initial break with the love of sin, and with the power and practice of sin, occurs when one first trusts Christ for salvation (see Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17). justified. Paul uses the word in its judicial sense of “declared righteous.” (See Rom. 5:1; 8:1; 33; 1 Cor. 1:30; see also 2 Cor. 5:21.)

1 Cor. 6:12–20 Some Corinthian Christians were engaging in sex with prostitutes. Paul reminds them that the bodies of Christians are one with the resurrected Christ and that, in risen form, the Christian’s body will be eternal. What they do with their bodies now, therefore, is important.

1 Cor. 6:12–13 “All things are lawful.” The quotation marks around this phrase, here and in 10:23, have been supplied to suggest that it was probably a common slogan among the Corinthians. “Food . . . for the stomach.” Probably another Corinthian slogan. From the culture around them, the Corinthians have adopted the idea that the body may have everything it craves. Paul knows, however, that human desires are corrupted by sin (Rom. 6:12; 16–22; 7:7–25).

1 Cor. 6:14 Jesus’ resurrection was the first step toward the resurrection of all God’s people on the last day (15:20). Jesus’ body and the believer’s body, therefore, are eternal (15:42–49), for God will also raise us up; the eternal nature of the believer’s body should affect his or her present behavior. See 15:30–34.

1 Cor. 6:15 bodies . . . members of Christ. Already in 1:13 Paul has suggested that the church is Christ’s body and that divisions in the church are incompatible with this truth. See also 12:12, 27; Eph. 1:22–23; 4:13–16; 5:23; Col. 1:18.

1 Cor. 6:16–18 Sexual union has a spiritual component. That means sexual activity outside marriage is a sin against Christ (v. 15) and against one’s own body (v. 18).

1 Cor. 6:19 temple of the Holy Spirit within you. The Spirit of the Lord lives within individual Christians (v. 17). This makes each Christian’s body a temple where God’s Spirit dwells (3:16).

1 Cor. 6:20 bought with a price. The image is borrowed from the slave market (7:23; see also Rom. 6:17–18). Christ’s blood is the purchase price (Eph. 1:7; see also Rev. 5:9).