1 Corinthians 6:1-11
1 Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints?
2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to form the smallest law courts?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
4 So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you anyone wise who will be able to decide between his brothers and sisters,
6 but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
7 Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
8 On the contrary, you yourselves do wrong and defraud. And this to your brothers and sisters!
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,
10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Christians and Lawsuits
Disputes among Christians
There were those in the Corinthian church who were taking fellow believers to court. Therefore, Paul also gives instruction regarding this matter. (1) These lawsuits were not criminal cases but civil disputes. Paul’s view was that criminal matters should rightly be judged according to Roman law (Rom. 13). (2) With regard to civil cases, Roman law permitted the Jews to settle disputes according to their own law. According to the teaching of the Jewish rabbis, it was considered sinful for Jews to bring their legal disputes before Gentile courts. (3) At the time this letter was written, Judaism and Christianity had not yet become fully distinct. Therefore, it appears that Christians also enjoyed the same legal rights as the Jews. Against this background, Paul provides guidance concerning legal disputes among Christians.
Awareness as saints
In conclusion, legal disputes between Christians should be settled within the church. Paul’s reasons are as follows. (1) The saints (Christians) will occupy the position of judging the world at the time of the Lord Jesus’ return (ref. Rom. 8:17; Rev. 20:4). Therefore, it is unreasonable that they should be unable to judge even the smallest cases. (2) It is inappropriate to appoint as judges those whom the church regards as having no standing. To bring a lawsuit before unbelievers is, in itself, a defeat. (3) Rather than suing one another, it is better to accept being wronged. If you are defrauded, so be it. (4) But the Corinthian Christians were doing the opposite. They themselves were committing wrong and defrauding others. The principles discussed above do not apply to disputes between unbelievers and Christians. In such cases, the matter should be brought before the civil courts. That is the fairer course for the unbelieving party. Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians of where they came from and how they were saved: “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” How have you been resolving conflicts between fellow Christians?
Today's prayer
Almighty God, please make me one who would rather suffer injustice than commit wrong or defraud others. I entrust all judgment into Your hands. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.