If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!
Parallel translations
- WEB Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
- KJV Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
- NKJV Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
- NASB 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?
- NLT When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul is appalled that believers take disputes before pagan courts rather than fellow Christians. It matters because the church should settle its own conflicts in a way that honors Christ.
Overview
Turning to lawsuits, Paul rebukes Corinthians for dragging brothers before 'the unrighteous' secular judges instead of seeking resolution among 'the saints.' Such public litigation damaged the church's witness and ignored the wisdom God grants His people. The verse calls Christians to handle internal grievances within the community of faith, under gospel values.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 18:15–17If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Acts 19:38So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.
- 1 Cor 14:33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
- 1 Cor 6:6–7Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
- 1 Cor 16:1Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
- Acts 18:14–15But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
- 1 Cor 16:15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,
- 1 Cor 1:2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 6:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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