1Does anyone of you who has a matter against another dare to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones? [6:2] Or do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged in you, are you unworthy of the most trivial cases? [6:3] Do you not know that we will judge angels — let alone matters of this life? [6:4] If then you have courts of judgment for matters of this life, do you seat those who are utterly despised in the assembly? [6:5] I say this to your shame. Is there not among you no one wise who will be able to decide between his brother? [6:6] But brother goes to law with brother — and this before unbelievers! [6:7] Already, then, it is altogether a defeat in you that you have lawsuits among yourselves. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? [6:8] But you yourselves do wrong and defraud — and this to brothers!
1CO 6:1-8
Lawsuits among Believers
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Corinth, lawsuits were a common feature of civic life, often tied to the Roman legal system and its emphasis on public honor and reputation. For believers in Christ, taking disputes before pagan courts would have been seen as a betrayal of communal identity and a failure to embody the values of the new covenant. Roman courts were often corrupt, favoring the wealthy and powerful, and their judgments were rooted in a system of patronage and social hierarchy. Paul’s rhetorical question—why not let the saints judge?—reflects the Jewish tradition of internal arbitration within the synagogue, where disputes were settled by respected community members. By contrast, the Corinthians’ actions exposed their lack of wisdom and unity, undermining the church’s witness. The term (despised) underscores the shame of elevating secular authorities over fellow believers, who were meant to reflect God’s future judgment of the world.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
1CO 6:1
- KJV
- Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, 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!
- Koinōnos
- Does anyone of you who has a matter against another dare to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the holy ones?
1CO 6:2
- KJV
- Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
- BSB
- Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
- Koinōnos
- Or do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? And if the world is judged in you, are you unworthy of the most trivial cases?
1CO 6:3
- KJV
- Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
- BSB
- Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
- Koinōnos
- Do you not know that we will judge angels — let alone matters of this life?
1CO 6:4
- KJV
- If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
- BSB
- So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church?
- Koinōnos
- If then you have courts of judgment for matters of this life, do you seat those who are utterly despised in the assembly?
1CO 6:5
- KJV
- I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
- BSB
- I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
- Koinōnos
- I say this to your shame. Is there not among you no one wise who will be able to decide between his brother?
1CO 6:6
- KJV
- But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
- BSB
- Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
- Koinōnos
- But brother goes to law with brother — and this before unbelievers!
1CO 6:7
- KJV
- Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
- BSB
- The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
- Koinōnos
- Already, then, it is altogether a defeat in you that you have lawsuits among yourselves. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
1CO 6:8
- KJV
- Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
- BSB
- Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!
- Koinōnos
- But you yourselves do wrong and defraud — and this to brothers!
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 6:1
- a matter:The word translated 'a matter' here refers to a concrete affair or business, often implying a dispute or legal case, rather than just a general topic.
- go to law:The word translated 'go to law' carries the sense of entering into a legal process, making a judgment, or engaging in a dispute, highlighting the act of seeking a verdict.
1CO 6:2
- of cases:The word translated 'of cases' refers specifically to a court of judgment or a tribunal, emphasizing the formal legal setting where disputes are heard and decided.
1CO 6:4
- despised:The word translated 'despised' means to treat as nothing, to utterly reject or hold in contempt, indicating a strong sense of worthlessness or insignificance.