Read & explore together
Members of Christ
Paul warns that unrighteous living does not inherit God’s kingdom, then reminds believers that they have been changed and now belong with the Lord in how they use their bodies.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In this part of the letter, Paul moves from a warning about the unrighteous to a reminder that some believers had once lived that way. He then answers slogans about freedom and food, and explains that the body is for the Lord, who will raise believers by his power.
1 Corinthians 6:9–17Main takeaway
Because believers were washed, sanctified, and justified, this passage says their bodies are for the Lord and must not be joined to sexual immorality.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A warning about inheriting God’s kingdomPaul says the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom and warns, “Don’t be deceived.” He then lists kinds of wrongdoing, including sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander, and extortion.
Explanation
Paul says the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom and warns, “Don’t be deceived.” He then lists kinds of wrongdoing, including sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander, and extortion. His point is that these ways do not inherit God’s kingdom.
02Believers have been changedPaul reminds the readers that some of them had once been such people. Yet he speaks of a decisive change: “you were washed”, “you were sanctified”, and “you were justified”.
Explanation
Paul reminds the readers that some of them had once been such people. Yet he speaks of a decisive change: “you were washed”, “you were sanctified”, and “you were justified”. He connects this change with the name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God.
03The body is for the LordPaul answers the saying, “All things are lawful for me,” by adding that not all things are helpful and that he will not be mastered by anything.
Explanation
Paul answers the saying, “All things are lawful for me,” by adding that not all things are helpful and that he will not be mastered by anything. He also says the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
04Members of ChristPaul says God raised the Lord and will also raise believers by his power. Then he asks whether the members of Christ should be made members of a prostitute.
Explanation
Paul says God raised the Lord and will also raise believers by his power. Then he asks whether the members of Christ should be made members of a prostitute. He contrasts being “one flesh” with a prostitute and being joined to the Lord as “one spirit”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What warning does Paul give before listing these behaviours?
Notice the words “Don’t be deceived” and how they connect with inheriting God’s kingdom.
02What three things does Paul say happened to the believers?
Read verse 11 carefully and list the three verbs Paul uses, then note who is named in that change.
03How does Paul explain that the body should not be joined to sexual immorality?
Trace his reasons in order: the body is for the Lord, God will raise believers, and their bodies are members of Christ.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 6:9–17
9Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,
10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.
11Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
12“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are expedient. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything.
13“Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.
15Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
16Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.”
17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.