Read & explore together
Lawsuits among Believers
In this part of 1 Corinthians, Paul challenges believers about taking disputes with each other to court. He presses them to think about who they are, how they handle ordinary conflicts, and how their actions affect the church.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage is written as direct teaching in a letter. Paul speaks to people in the assembly who have matters against one another and are bringing those cases before unbelievers. He argues from the believers’ future role, the need for wise judgement within the church, and the shame of wronging a brother.
1 Corinthians 6:1–8Main takeaway
Paul teaches that believers should deal with disputes in a way that reflects wisdom, justice, and care for one another within the church.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A challenge about where disputes are takenPaul opens with a sharp question: how can someone with a matter against a neighbour go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints?
Explanation
Paul opens with a sharp question: how can someone with a matter against a neighbour go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints? His concern is not only that a conflict exists, but that believers are taking it outside the believing community for judgement.
02Believers’ future role should shape present decisionsPaul reminds them that the saints will judge the world and even angels. On that basis, he asks whether they are unworthy to judge the smallest matters and things that pertain to this life.
Explanation
Paul reminds them that the saints will judge the world and even angels. On that basis, he asks whether they are unworthy to judge the smallest matters and things that pertain to this life. His argument moves from a larger future responsibility to ordinary disputes now.
03A wise person should be able to decidePaul asks why those of no account in the assembly are being set to judge these matters. He says this to move them to shame and asks whether there is even one wise man among them able to decide between brothers.
Explanation
Paul asks why those of no account in the assembly are being set to judge these matters. He says this to move them to shame and asks whether there is even one wise man among them able to decide between brothers. The issue includes the church’s lack of internal discernment.
04Lawsuits reveal a deeper failurePaul states plainly that brother goes to law with brother, and before unbelievers. He then says the very existence of these lawsuits is already a defect.
Explanation
Paul states plainly that brother goes to law with brother, and before unbelievers. He then says the very existence of these lawsuits is already a defect. Instead of insisting on their own advantage, they should consider enduring being wronged rather than continuing the damage.
05The problem is not only the court casePaul ends by exposing the deeper sin: they themselves do wrong and defraud, and they do it against their brothers.
Explanation
Paul ends by exposing the deeper sin: they themselves do wrong and defraud, and they do it against their brothers. So the passage is not merely about legal process. It is also about unjust behaviour within the believing family itself.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Paul use the believers’ future role to argue about present conflicts?
Look at the way he moves from judging the world and angels to handling the smallest matters of this life.
02What does Paul say is shameful about these disputes?
Notice both the lack of a wise person to decide and the fact that brother goes to law with brother before unbelievers.
03According to Paul, what deeper wrong sits underneath the lawsuits?
Read the final verse carefully and identify the actions he names, and who is harmed by them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 6:1–8
1Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?
5I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
6But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers!
7Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
8No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.