Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not 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?
- BSB If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of 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 18:15–17Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
- Acts 19:38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
- 1 Cor 14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
- 1 Cor 6:6–7But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
- 1 Cor 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
- Acts 18:14–15And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
- 1 Cor 16:15I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
- 1 Cor 1:2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
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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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