1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 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? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 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? 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7 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? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (1 Corinthians 6:1-8 KJV)
Lawsuits Against Believers
The apostle Paul reproves the Corinthians for taking each other to court before unbelieving judges over trivial matters. In the previous chapter, he had instructed them to discipline serious sin within the church. Now he tells them to settle their disputes among themselves through the counsel of the church (1 Corinthians 6:1).
He criticizes them for one believer suing another (v.6), showing that their spiritual relationship didn’t prevent contention. Brothers in Christ were acting like enemies, which contradicted their calling. Christians should not fight each other in court. The apostle also notes that these lawsuits were brought before unbelieving judges (vv.1, 6), which exposed the church to public shame and contradicted their identity as followers of Christ, who is meek and peaceable. It was disgraceful that believers, who claimed to walk in wisdom, would publicly display their lack of peace and self-control.
Paul also suggests that the issues they were disputing were of little importance. He asks why they didn’t rather suffer wrong than go to court (v.7), implying the matters were not worth public contention. While serious harm might call for legal redress, for small injuries it is more honorable and Christlike to forgive and move on. Christians are called to be peaceable and forgiving.
Paul strengthens his rebuke by reminding them of their future role: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? … Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:2–3). If they are one day to stand with Christ in judgment, it is disgraceful that they cannot resolve small disputes among themselves. It dishonors their dignity as believers when they resort to secular courts over earthly matters.
He asks, “Is it possible there is nobody wise among you to judge between believers?” (v.5). This is a strong rebuke to their pride, since they boasted of their wisdom. If even the least among them could settle these disputes, why appeal to unbelievers? Paul shames them for failing to handle their affairs internally, highlighting how unchristian it is for disagreements to escalate into public legal battles.
Paul proposes two solutions. First, they should appoint wise believers among them to mediate. Christians should exhaust all peaceful means within the church before involving secular authorities. Lawsuits should be a last resort, not the first option. Second, Paul urges them to accept wrong rather than escalate conflict: “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” (v.7). Personal peace and church unity are worth more than insisting on one’s rights in court, especially when unbelievers are watching.
He concludes with a sharp warning. Not only were they unwilling to bear wrongs, but some of them were actively doing wrong and cheating their fellow believers (v.8). To defraud anyone is wrong, but to cheat a fellow Christian is even worse. The Christian life is rooted in love, and “love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). Those who truly love the brethren will not exploit or harm them.