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1
Corinthians Chapter Six
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Principles in the
Church Life
A. Believers should not go to
law against one another in the church (v.1-8):
1.
Brother
should not go to law against another before the Gentiles who do not believe the
Lord (v.1-6).
2.
It
is utterly wrong that brothers go to law against another (v.7-8).
B. The unrighteous cannot
inherit the
C. Believers should glorify
God in their bodies (v.12-20):
1.
The
bodies of believers are for the Lord (v.12-14).
2.
The
bodies of believers are members of Christ (v.15-17).
3. The bodies of believers are
the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.18-20).
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 6:1 “Dare any of you, having a
matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the
saints?”
YLT: “Dare any one of you, having a matter
with the other, go to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the
saints?”
Literal
Meaning: “any
of you …having a matter against another”, “any of you”: among believers in the
church at
“Dare … go to law before the
unrighteous”, “dare”, it suggests that it is presumptuous of believers in the
church at
“And not before the saints”, “go to
law before the saints”, it means dealing with the cases inside the church
according to the principles and steps declared by the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter eighteen
(see Matt. 18:15-20).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
there are many quarrels in a group of the world, it shows that there are many
sins in that group. Likewise, if there is a lot of strife in the church, it
must be because that they have much unrighteousness. Confliction and
unrighteousness are always reciprocal causation.
2)
Many
Christians are nearsighted spiritually. They see only the fame and benefit at
present, but ignore the judgment that we shall face in the future. They care
for their personal gain and loss without considering that of the Lord and the
church. They have only seen physical benefit, but have not seen spiritual gain
or loss.
1Cor. 6:2 “Do you not know that the
saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you
unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ”
YLT: “have ye not known that the saints
shall judge the world? and if by you the world is judged, are ye unworthy of
the smaller judgments?”
Literal
Meaning: “do
you not know that the saints will judge the world?” ---- “Will judge”, it will
happen in the future. When the saints in the world, if they are faithful over a
few things, they will rule over many things in the coming age (see Matt. 25:21,
23). “Judge the world”, it is one of the many things that we will rule over.
“And if the world will be judged by
you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” ---- Here, “the world” is
contrast to “the smallest matters”, showing that since believers have such
great power of judging such big world, they can certainly judge such small
things among believers.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
“Do
you not know that…”, it shows that they can know, but cannot do. These are all
mistakes easily made by Christians ---- one violates something knowingly; one’s
doing is against his knowing; and the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
(see Matt. 26:41).
2)
That
we believers judge sins and condemn what should be judged and do not disguise
sins are practices and preparations for the judgment of the world in the
future.
3)
No
matter how great the things that believers dispute, they are “the smallest
things” in the eyes of spiritual ones. He who is carnal often magnifies things
as small as pinpoints. However, he who is spiritual often minimizes the
problems.
1Cor. 6:3 “Do you not know that we
shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? ”
YLT: “have ye not known that we shall judge
messengers? why not then the things of life?”
Literal
Meaning: “do
you not know that we shall judge angels?” ---- The Scriptures have clearly
declared that if angels have sinned, they should be judged in the future (see
2Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). What is really amazing is that in the counsel of God He
does not personally judge the angels that sinned, but gives the power of
judgment on angels to believers. What a great honor to us! What a shame to
angels that sinned!
“How much more, things that pertain to
this life”? ---- “Things that pertain to this life” refer to judging believers.
Here it is contrast to the judgment on angels, for the latter one is things
pertaining to the future.
1Cor. 6:4 “If then you have judgments
concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least
esteemed by the church to judge?”
YLT: “of the things of life, indeed, then,
if ye may have judgment, those despised in the assembly -- these cause ye to
sit;”
Literal Meaning:
“if then”:
since believers have the power of judging things pertaining to this life.
“You have judgments concerning things
pertaining to this life”, “things pertaining to this life” refer to things that
can not be taken to the future and worldly as well as physical things, e.g.
disputes over property, conflicts over fame and gain, disagreements on doings
and etc.
“Do you appoint those who are least
esteemed by the church to judge?” ---- “Those who are least esteemed by the
church”, there are two different kinds of interpretations:
1)
According
to the context, it refers to the Gentiles who do not believe the Lord (see v.1,
6). They are contrast to believers who have the power of judging things
pertaining to this life. Moreover, since men in the world knows the wisdom of
the world only, they are least esteemed by believers who seek true wisdom (see
1Cor. 2:6-8).
2)
It
refers to believers who lack wisdom and are not famous. Therefore, Paul then
suggests that they should choose a wise man to judge (see v.5). However, this
interpretation appears to be a little abrupt, for the meaning of Paul’s words
here is coherent ---- he condemns them for having gone to law before the
unrighteous, not before believers. And Paul will not call believers those “who
are least esteemed”.
1Cor. 6:5 “I say this to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be
able to judge between his brethren? ”
YLT: “unto your shame I speak: so there is
not among you one wise man, not even one, who shall be able to discern in the
midst of his brethren!”
Literal
Meaning: “I
say this to your shame”, it means that Paul points out their sin so as to make
them ashamed.
“Is it so, that there is not a wise
man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?”
---- It carries a sarcastic tone, for they have been puffed up and think they
have wisdom (see 1Cor. 3:18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
church has not only the responsibility of shepherding and teaching but also
that of government and judgment.
2)
The
Lord Jesus asks His servants to be not only faithful (see 1Cor. 4:2) but also
prudent (see Matt. 24:45). The servants of the Lord should practice setting
over his household in the house of God today ---- namely, making judgments
among brothers well ---- so that we shall govern greater and more things in the
future (see Matt. 24:45-47).
1Cor. 6:6 “But brother goes to law
against brother, and that before unbelievers!”
YLT: “but brother with brother doth go to
be judged, and this before unbelievers!”
Literal
Meaning: “but
brother goes to law against brother”, “but”, it shows that believers should not
go to law against brother in normal condition.
“And that before unbelievers”, they
have shown themselves before those who do not believe the Lord. It is an
unbearable shame to those who love the testimony of Christ and the church.
“And that”, it shows that they have
made dual mistakes: firstly, it is a severe mistake (see v.7) that brothers go
to law against another, for it indicates that there is problem with the spirit
and the mind of the one who goes to law against another; secondly, going to law
against another has lowered the level of Christians to the degree of the
Gentiles. How can we judge them in the future (see v.2)? Not to mention the
judgment on angels (see v.3).
Controversial
Clarification: Paul
does not mean Christians should not seek the protection of the law of the
nation or appeal to the higher court when being evil treated, for Paul Himself
had ever appealed unto Caesar so as to shelter him from the assassination by
the extreme Jews (see Acts 25:1-3; 9-11).
What Paul condemned here was their condition: they were originally
familiar with and known each other, but became enemies against one another for
trivial reasons. Moreover, they strived to fight it out among them and would
even claim justice to each other through the court of the world.
1Cor. 6:7 “Now therefore, it is
already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do
you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? ”
YLT: “Already, indeed, then, there is
altogether a fault among you, that ye have judgments with one another;
wherefore do ye not rather suffer injustice? wherefore be ye not rather
defrauded?”
Meaning of
Words:
“utter failure”: absolute failure, complete failure, extreme failure;
Literal
Meaning: “for
you that you go to law against one another”, it means that one believer is in
the face with another one in the law court.
“Now therefore, it is already an utter
failure”, no matter they are right or wrong, as long as they appeal to the
higher court, they have already made serious mistakes.
“Why do you not rather accept wrong?”
---- “Rather”: to make decision after consideration and evaluation; “Accept
wrong”, be treated unfairly and unjustly by others;
“Why do you not rather let yourselves
be cheated?” ---- “Be cheated”: be exploited by others and suffer loss;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
According
to the “truth”, if one brother has a matter against the other one, he should
not go to law against the other one before the Gentiles, but before the saints
who are respected in the church (see v.1-6). However, according to “the Spirit
of Christ”, there should not be disputes among brothers at all, or bring a
lawsuit against another one. Instead, brothers should be willing to “accept
wrong” and “let ourselves be cheated”. This is the manifestation of Christ.
2)
If
brothers bring lawsuits against another for the sake of the treasures on the
earth, it has disobeyed the last commandment of the Lord ---- “love one
another” (John 13:34). Therefore, it never pleases the Lord of arguing who is
right. Only the one who is willing to accept wrong and let him be cheated
pleases the Lord.
3)
One
who truly loves the Lord cares for Christ in his heart and whether brothers and
sisters have enjoyed Christ. He does not care about the controversy at all.
4)
Once
there is legal action among brothers, no matter who is right or who is wrong,
he who brings the lawsuit must have not focused on Christ or enjoyed Christ,
nor have experienced the cross of Christ.
5)
If
one has fixed his eyes on the true, spiritual and eternal blessings rather than
the vain or physical or transient losses, he can endure loss.
6)
He
who wants to have peace with brothers should pay the cost, namely, be willing
to accept wrong and let himself be cheated.
7)
Christians
are willing to accept wrong and let us be cheated, for they have different
“values” from men in the world. The values of Christians are: the welfare of
the Lord is more important that that of us and the spiritual welfare is more
important than the worldly one, and the eternal welfare is more important than
that of this age.
8)
All
that we believers have are received (see 1Cor. 4:7). We had nothing. And what
we have now are obtained from the Lord and are of the gifts of the Lord. Even
though others take advantage of us, we actually have not suffered any loss.
Therefore, we should be rather let ourselves be cheated.
1Cor. 6:8 “No, you yourselves do
wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!”
YLT: “but ye -- ye do injustice, and ye
defraud, and these -- brethren!”
Meaning of
Words: “do
wrong”: be unrighteous to; “cheat”: exploit;
Literal
Meaning: “you
yourselves do wrong and cheat”, “do wrong”, treat others wrongly with improper
ways and force others to yield; “cheat” is to exploit others with deceitful
ways so as to take advantage of others.
“And you do these things to your
brethren”, brothers should not do wrong to or cheat men, not to mention brothers
who are partakers of heavenly grace.
1Cor. 6:9 “Do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the
YLT: “have ye not known that the
unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither
whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,”
The
Background: at
that time, the city of
Literal
Meaning: “do
you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
“Unrighteous” and “the
“Do not be deceived”, it means that we
should face the problems and adopt right actions.
“Neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites”, “fornicators” refer to
improper sexual relationship; “idolaters” is often mentioned with fornication
(see Rev. 2:20; 21:8; 22:15); “adulterers” refer to sexual relationship outside
of marriage; “homosexuals, “sodomites”:gays;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Those
who do sins, no matter what kind of sin, shall not inherit the
2)
“Homosexuals
and sodomites” are sins of homosexuality (see
1Cor. 6:10 “nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the
YLT: “nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, the reign of God shall inherit.”
Literal
Meaning: “thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners”, “thieves”: steal
the possessions of others secretly; “covetous…extortioners”, these are
mentioned in chapter five (see the commentary of chapter, 5:11).
1Cor. 6:11 “And such were some of
you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. ”
YLT: “And certain of you were these! but ye
were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were declared righteous, in the
name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.”
Literal
Meaning: “and
such were some of you”, we believers were the same as men in the world before
we were saved. Some of believers in the church at
“But you …in the name of the Lord
Jesus”, the name represents the reality of a man. The name of the Lord is the
Lord Himself. Therefore, be in the name of the Lord is in the Lord Himself.
“And by the Spirit of our God”, “the
Spirit of our God” is the Holy Spirit (see
“You were washed, but you were
sanctified, but you were justified”, “were justified…were washed, but you were
sanctified”, the past perfect tense shows that we were washed and sanctified
and justified “in the position”, but not “in experience”. Believers were
washed, sanctified and justified in the position when we were saved ---- we had
been washed by the blood without any trace of sin left, and separated unto God
and became saints (see 1Cor. 1:2) and justified by faith before God (see Rom.
5:1; 19). These are “accomplished” facts.
When sanctification and justification
are mentioned together in the Scriptures, justification is often mentioned
before sanctification (see Rom. 6:19; 1Cor. 1:30; Rev. 22:11). According to the
order of the truth, justification (Rom. 5) is before sanctification (Rom. 6).
Here, sanctification is firstly mentioned. May be it is because it has something
to do with the matter, to which the context refers ---- believers in the church
at
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
We
should not do anything that is unworthy of our position or tends to filth or
unrighteousness.
2)
Though
believers have been washed, sanctified and justified in the position, we should
still seek to be washed, sanctified and justified in our experience.
1Cor. 6:12 “All things are lawful for
me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will
not be brought under the power of any. ”
YLT: “All things are lawful to me, but all
things are not profitable; all things are lawful to me, but I -- I will not be
under authority by any;”
Meaning of
Words:
“helpful”: be better for, bring together, be expedient (for), be good; “under
the power”: exercise authority upon, control;
Literal
Meaning: “all
things are lawful for me”, at that time, some believers misunderstood “liberty of
Christians”, thinking that Christians could walk without any restriction.
Therefore, that “all things are lawful for me” had become a kind of slogan.
“But all things are not helpful”, Paul
here puts forth the first principle of applying the liberty of Christians ----
things that are not helpful cannot be done.
“All things are lawful for me, but I
will not be brought under the power of any”, the second principle of applying
the liberty of Christians: we cannot do anything that may even rule us and
become our master. In other words, we should exercise liberty as well as keep
the liberty for fear of losing liberty.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
This
verse points out an important principle of Christians’ conduct. After we have
been saved, all our walking should bring us about spiritual profit. Besides, we
should not indulge in anything that may entangle us. Therefore, all things that
cannot build up our spiritual life but will bind us are unlawful.
2)
The
conduct of Christians is not in external actions. There is nothing that cannot
be done ---- “all things are lawful”, and there is nothing that we must do ----
“but I will not be brought under the power of any”. Whether one thing is lawful
is decided by whether there is the constitution of Christ or the profit of
Christ ---- which are the true “helpful” things.
3)
In
the church life, there is not any external regulation concerning the conduct of
Christians, but in every believer there is a living Christ, who is our law of
life and living guidance. All things that are of spiritual profit without being
ruled by anything are lawful for us. However, anything that is of no spiritual
profit and that easily rules us is unlawful for us.
4)
If
liberty is not properly applied, it may turn to indulgence and indulgence will
change into bad habits and bad habits will prove to be power of ruling men.
Once man is ruled by bad habits, what dominates his actions should not be
himself, but bad habits.
1Cor. 6:13 “Foods for the stomach and
the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is
not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ”
YLT: “the meats for the belly, and the
belly for the meats. And God both this and these shall make useless; and the
body not for whoredom, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body;”
Literal
Meaning: “foods
for the stomach and the stomach for foods”, this was another slogan at that
time for the purpose of defending the carnal enjoyment. The general meaning is
as follows: since the delicious food is before us, we must eat them, for our
belly is created for the enjoyment of delicious food.
“But God will destroy both it and
them”, Paul means that physical food and flesh will perish and will pass away.
Christians should pay attention to the imperishable and eternal things when
living in the world.
“Now the body is not for sexual
immorality but for the Lord”, the physical bodies of Christians are not for
their own enjoyment, but for the purpose of the Lord.
Note that it is different between
“fornications” towards “bodies” as well as “food” towards “stomach”. The former
influences one’s end in the coming age, and the latter is only in this age.
“And the Lord for the body”, Paul
points the interrelationship between “food” and “stomach” in the first half
verse. And in like manner, he mentions the interrelationship between “the body”
and “the Lord”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Today,
it is very common among the children of God of misapplication of liberty. And
two matters are the commonest: the first is eating ---- there is no temperance
in food, and the second is sex ---- man indulges himself in sexual
relationship. Both of eating and sex are originally for the will of God ---- the
maintenance of life and multiplication of life. However, men’s misapplication
of them turns them to tools of Satan of harming men.
2)
Christians
need not to pay too much attention to food or stomach or flavor, those who have
walked in which have not been profited by (Heb. 13:9).
3)
Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth
of God (Matt. 4:4);
4)
There
is a feature of heretical teachers ---- whose god is their belly (Phil. 3:19).
They do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly (
5)
One’s
body is for walking and actions. All the four essential requirements of the
people ---- food, clothing, housing and transportation ---- relate to our
bodies. If Christians only pay attention to knowledge instead of walking, there
will be of no reality or testimony.
6)
“The
body is for the Lord”. The Lord especially cares for our bodies, but we often
regard lightly our bodies and fail to look after them well. He who troubles his
body has sinned against the Lord.
7)
The
body of man is not for food or sex, but for the Lord. Appetite and sex are
instincts of our bodies given by God so that we can live and achieve the
purpose of God’s creation. Therefore, no matter appetite or sex, they can
normally glorify God and benefit men.
8)
Christians
are neither those who uphold asceticism nor those who indulge in sensual
pleasures, but those who temperate in everything ---- they satisfy their
physical need for the sake of the Lord.
9)
“The
Lord is for the body”, if Christ has the first place in our heart, the Lord
will take the responsibility of providing the need of our bodies.
1Cor. 6:14 “And God both raised up
the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.”
YLT: “and God both the Lord did raise, and
us will raise up through His power.”
Literal Meaning:
“and God
both raised up the Lord”, the fact of the Lord’s resurrection is a powerful
proof, proving that the bodies of us will also rise (1Cor. 15:22). This is the
result of the working of God’s great power (see 2Cor. 13:4).
“And will also raise us up by His
power”, since the bodies of Christians will be raised and redeemed in the
future (see
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
When
the Lord comes again, He shall transform our body of humiliation into
conformity to his body of glory, according to the working of power which he has
even to subdue all things to himself (Phil. 3:21).
2)
Though
we are transient in the flesh, we live for the imperishable hope. Therefore,
Christian’s life is truly full of significance.
3)
If
the dead does not rise, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die (1Cor.
15:32). However, since we are sure that we will rise, our life have a purpose
and we know that our labor in Christ in not vain (see 1Cor. 15:58).
4)
In
fact, if we have spiritual revelation, we can experience in our bodies, without
waiting for the Lord’s second coming, that the Spirit of life swallows up all
our physical weakness and disease and eliminates all the elements of death so
that we shall live in the reality of the risen life of Christ, because “if the
Spirit of him that has raised up Jesus from among dead dwell in you, he that
has raised up Christ from among dead shall quicken your mortal bodies also on
account of his Spirit which dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:11).
1Cor. 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 harlot? Certainly not! ”
YLT: “Have ye not known that your bodies
are members of Christ? having taken, then, the members of the Christ, shall I
make members of an harlot? let it be not!”
Literal
Meaning: “do
you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” ---- “Members” indicate
the “owner-member relationship”. “Members of Christ”, it means that the bodies
of believers are of Christ and have the purpose and function of serving Christ.
After believers are saved, Christ not only dwells in our spirit (2Tim.
4:22), but also extends from our spirits to our hearts (Eph. 3:17) and then to
our bodies (2Cor. 4:11). Therefore, all the spirit and soul and body of
believers are of the Lord (1Thess. 5:23) and are members of the body of Christ
manifested on the earth (Eph. 5:30).
“Shall I then take the members of
Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!” ---- “Take”: take the
members of Christ to harlots to be her members. No doubt that it is a giant
comparison between Christ and harlot. A normal Christian will in no wise prefer
to be members of harlot but reject to be members of Christ. Therefore, Paul says “certainly not”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
He
who abuses his body has overstepped the power of a Christian’s liberty.
2)
Man
can debase himself by letting his members enslaved by lusts, and can elevate
himself to be members of Christ ---- what a giant disparity between them!
1Cor. 6:16 “Or do you not know that
he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He
says, "shall become one flesh." ”
YLT: “have ye not known that he who is
joined to the harlot is one body? `for they shall be -- saith He -- the two for
one flesh.'”
Literal
Meaning: “or
do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?” ----
This verse expresses the view of God upon sexual relationship.
“For "the two," He says,
"shall become one flesh."” ---- It is quoted from the Book of Genesis (2:24), showing that
husband and wife become one flesh by sexual relationship as well as that “God
has joined together, let not man separate (see Matt. 19:5-6).” Man should honor
this united relationship and have no fornications or adultery (see Heb. 13:4).
1Cor. 6:17 “But he who is joined to
the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
YLT: “And he who is joined to the Lord is
one spirit;”
Literal
Meaning: “but
he who is joined to the Lord”, the relation between believers and the Lord is
life that of husband and wife. Such jointed relationship can be understood from
the Lord’s parable of the vine and the branches (see John 15:4-5). We abide in
the Lord and the Lord is in us. And there is fellowship of life between the
Lord and us, and we shall thus bear fruit of life. Therefore, it is a matter
that is “in life”.
“Is one spirit with Him”, the Lord is
the Spirit (2Cor. 3:17). And the Lord’s spirit dwells in believers (see
1Cor. 6:18 “Flee sexual immorality.
Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual
immorality sins against his own body. ”
YLT: “flee the whoredom; every sin --
whatever a man may commit -- is without the body, and he who is committing
whoredom, against his own body doth sin.”
Literal
Meaning: “flee
sexual immorality”, there is a principle in the Scriptures ---- we should
“stand against” the devil (see Eph. 6:11, 13; James 4:7; 1Pet. 5:9), but
“abstain from” or “flee” the lusts (see 1Thess. 4:3; 1Tim. 6:11; 2Tim. 2:22).
“Flee”, the imperative tone shows that we should flee right now.
“Flee sexual immorality”, because there is not a sin that more corrupts
man’s spirit than this one.
“Every sin that a man does is outside
the body”, actually, a lot of bad conduct will harm man’s body, e.g. excessive
drinking, drug taking, dancing overnight, gambling overnight and etc. however,
it is incomprehensible to us that here “…outside the body”. Some Bible exegetes
think that it is quoted from the words of the Corinthians by Paul so as to
expose their attitude of despising sins.
Besides, possibly it is a comparative
saying. Paul holds that the influence (spiritual influence) of other sins
towards man’s bodies is not worse than sexual immorality. Other sins have
nothing to do with “becoming one body” (see v.16), but only sexual immorality
makes one joined to the body of the other one unto one body.
“But he who commits sexual immorality
sins against his own body.” ---- “Sin against”, it is not only harm or injury,
but also offense against the will of God concerning His creation of man’s body.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Sexual
immorality is a kind of sin in body as well as an eternal mark and shame in the
body. Therefore, Paul says, “flee sexual immorality”. If we are faced with such
temptation, it will be better for us to turn away and flee it than to attempt
to struggle with it.
2)
We
Christians should have right attitudes toward our bodies ---- at least, we
shall flee sexual immorality and be kept from the blemish of sins. And in a
more elevated sense, we shall glorify God (see v.20).
3)
In
order to teach us to flee sexual immorality and keep the holiness of bodies,
the apostle reveals us the spiritual position of our bodies here (see v.12-20).
This is the best example: the right way of bringing men to the Lord is not only
correcting men’s actions externally, but firstly giving men strong and rich
spiritual knowledge. If man is really opened inside and has known a certain
matter, he will be affected on that point by his knowledge and have right
actions spontaneously.
1Cor. 6: 19 “Or do you not know that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from
God, and you are not your own?”
YLT: “Have ye not known that your body is a
sanctuary of the Holy Spirit in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not
your own,”
Literal
Meaning: “or
do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you”,
it is mentioned in the third chapter of this book that the church is the
“The Holy Spirit…whom you have from
God”, it means that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God.
“Who is in you”, the Holy Spirit
dwells in believers (John 20:22).
“And you are not your own?” ---- Every
believer does not belong to himself.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
If
we do not have the indwelling spirit in us, we are not only mortal flesh but
also whited sepulchres (see Matt. 23:27). However, if we have the indwelling
spirit, we become much honorable.
2)
We
shall not receive the Holy Spirit as a guest, but as our Lord and let Him reign
all in the small temple of us. Therefore, we shall walk in the Spirit and not
fulfill the lust of the flesh (see Gal. 5:16).
1Cor. 6:20 “For you were bought at a
price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”
YLT: “for ye were bought with a price;
glorify, then, God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Literal
Meaning: “for
you were bought at a price”, “price” refer to the price of the Lord’s precious
blood. “Be bought”, the buying out in the slave market. That the Lord bought to
us so as to we shall be unto Himself.
“Therefore glorify God in your body
and in your spirit, which are God's.” ---- “Glorify God in your body”, it
indicates that we shall not only keep the holiness of our bodies but also let
the Spirit of God occupy us more and be filled in our bodies until when we can
fully manifest God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
After
we have been bought at the price of the Lord’s precious blood, our bodies will
become “members” jointed with Christ (v.13) as well as the “temple” that the
Holy Spirit dwells (v.19). Therefore, we should not let our bodies be tools of
sins (see Rom. 6:13), but vessels of the glory of God.
2)
The
best way for our bodies of glorifying God is leading a normal church life. The
church life has close relationship with our bodies. If we have not looked after
our bodies well or we have used our bodies wrongly, the church life of us will
be seriously influenced.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Why
Should Not Christians Go to Law Against One Another?
A.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the honorable identity of Christians
(v.2-3).
B.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the gifts that Christians have
obtained ---- true wisdom (v.5).
C.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the relationship of Christians ----
they are all brothers (v.6).
D.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the spirit of denying oneself of
Christians ---- being willing to accept wrong and let themselves be cheated
(v.7).
E.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the commandment of loving one another
for Christians (v.8).
F.
Going
to law against one another is unworthy of the sanctified position of Christians
(v.9-11)
Do
You Not Know…?
A.
Do
you not know that the saints will judge the world? (v.2)
B.
Do
you not know that we shall judge angels? (v.3)
C.
Do
you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
D.
Do
you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? (v.15)
E.
Do
you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? (v.16)
F.
Do
you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? (v.19)
Why
Should Not Christians Commit Sexual Immorality?
A.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle of the liberty of Christians’ bodies
(v.12).
B.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle of the function of Christians’
bodies (v.13).
C.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle of the resurrection of Christians’
bodies (v.14).
D.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are the members of
the body of Christ (v.15).
E.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are joined to the
Lord (v.16-17).
F.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle that Christians are the temple of
the Lord (v.18-19).
G.
The
sexual immorality is against the principle of the honor of Christians’ bodies
(v.20).
The
Spiritual Position of Man’s Body
A.
The
body is for the Lord (v.13).
B.
God
shall raise up our bodies (v.14) and we will be clothed with incorruptibility
(see 1Cor. 15:53).
C.
Our
bodies are members of Christ (v.15).
D.
He
who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him (v.17).
E.
Our
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (v.19).
F.
We
were bought at a price (v.20).
G.
We
“glorify God” thought our body (v.20).
The
Principles of Christians’ Walking
A.
We
can do things that are “lawful” (v.12).
B.
We
can do things “that we will not be brought under the power of them” (v.12).
C.
We
shall do everything “for the Lord” (v.13).
D.
We
shall walk by the “risen” power of life (v.14).
E.
We
shall walk through “the union with the Lord” (v.17).
F.
We
shall walk in a manner so that the indwelling “spirit” can rest (v.19).
G.
We
shall walk for “glorifying God” (v.20).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou