1CO 6:9-17

Members of Christ

9Or 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 the soft-bodied who take a passive role, nor men who take other men, [6:10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [6:11] And these things some of you were. 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. [6:12] "All things are permitted to me" — but not all things are profitable. "All things are permitted to me" — but I will not be mastered by anything. [6:13] "Foods for the belly and the belly for foods" — but God will do away with both this and these. Yet the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. [6:14] And God both raised the Lord and will raise us through his power. [6:15] Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not! [6:16] Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, "The two will become one flesh." [6:17] But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Corinth, a bustling Roman colony with a diverse population, sexual ethics were deeply intertwined with social and religious practices. Prostitution, including temple prostitution, was common and often tied to pagan worship. The terms '' (malakos) and '' (arsenokoitēs) reflect specific roles in same-sex relationships, with 'malakos' denoting effeminate men who took a passive role and 'arsenokoitēs' referring to active participants. These behaviors were not merely personal choices but were often embedded in broader cultural practices, including patronage and idolatry. The mention of '' (pornē) highlights the prevalence of commercial sex, often involving enslaved individuals. Paul’s audience, many of whom had converted from paganism, would have recognized these behaviors as part of their former lives. The call to 'wash,' 'sanctify,' and 'justify' in Christ’s name marked a radical break from these practices, emphasizing a new identity rooted in purity and communal holiness. The assertion that 'all things are lawful but not all things are profitable' challenges the Corinthians’ libertine tendencies, urging self-control and alignment with God’s kingdom.

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How other translations render this

1CO 6:9

KJV: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
BSB: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
Koinōnos: 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 the soft-bodied who take a passive role, nor men who take other men,

1CO 6:10

KJV: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
BSB: nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Koinōnos: nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1CO 6:11

KJV: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
BSB: And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Koinōnos: And these things some of you were. 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.

1CO 6:12

KJV: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
BSB: “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.
Koinōnos: All things are permitted to me" — but not all things are profitable. "All things are permitted to me" — but I will not be mastered by anything.

1CO 6:13

KJV: Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
BSB: “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Koinōnos: Foods for the belly and the belly for foods" — but God will do away with both this and these. Yet the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1CO 6:14

KJV: And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
BSB: By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.
Koinōnos: And God both raised the Lord and will raise us through his power.

1CO 6:15

KJV: Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
BSB: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!
Koinōnos: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not!

1CO 6:16

KJV: What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
BSB: Or donʼt you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
Koinōnos: Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, "The two will become one flesh.

1CO 6:17

KJV: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
BSB: But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
Koinōnos: But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1CO 6:9

effeminate:The word translated 'effeminate' here referred to men who were perceived as soft or unmanly, often implying a passive role in sexual acts, or a general lack of masculine vigor.
homosexuals:The term translated 'homosexuals' is a compound word that specifically referred to men who engaged in sexual acts with other men, particularly those who took the active role.

1CO 6:13

belly:The word translated 'belly' could refer to the stomach as an organ, but also more broadly to the entire digestive system or even the physical appetites and desires associated with it.

1CO 6:15

[them] of a prostitute:The word translated 'prostitute' referred to a woman who sold sexual services, and in the ancient world, many such women were enslaved or of low social status.