It's Better To Get Ripped Off (1 Corinthians 6:1-11) Series

I'd like to begin today by reading something from John G. Lake, somewhere in The Collected Writings of John G. Lake:

"Beloved, there is a deep, passionate yearning in my soul that above all else this congregation may set forth, to the praise of God, such a character of righteousness in God, such a purity of holiness from God, that this people may not only be recognized in this city, but throughout the world, as a people among whom God dwells."

It is to this goal that the apostle Paul speaks in our passage today.

In chapter 6, Paul moves to a second issue reported to him about the Corinthian church. He begins by writing this, in verse 1:

(1) Does someone among you dare, a dispute having against the other, to be judged

before the unrighteous

and not before the holy/dedicated ones?

The verb in verse 1 I've translated "to be judged" reads differently in English Bibles, and in a way that muddies Paul's argument (by hiding the link of "to judge" between verse 1 and 2).

If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? -NIV

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? -KJV

Young's literal translation again does a great job here:

Dare any one of you, having a matter with the other, go to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

The verb Paul uses here is the passive form of "judging." One of the problems in this church is that Christians--people who are dedicated to God-- are deliberately placing themselves under the judgment of the unrighteous when they have a dispute.

And Paul marvels at the courage they show in doing this. How brave do you have to be, when you have a dispute, to bring that dispute to an unrighteous mediator, who isn't committed to acting rightly toward God or people, and willingly submit to his judgment?

Paul then expands on this, in verses 2-3:

(2) Or don't you know that the dedicated ones the world they will judge?,

and if by you the world is judged, unworthy/undeserving are you of the most insignificant courts of justice?

(3) Don't you know that angels we will judge-- not to mention the everyday things?

Many Christians have no sense of the dominion God has given them over the world. You were made to rule over all creation (Gen. 1). You were made just a little less than Elohim/God/angels (Psalm 8). And the day is coming when you-- the ones dedicated to God-- will judge the entire world.

And if it's by you that the world is judged, are you incapable of handling disputes over everyday things? One Christian has a dispute with another over something that would belong to a small claims court, and you can't handle that? That's too big for you? You think there's nothing you can do about this?

In verse 3, Paul broadens your perspective even more. The day is coming when we will examine angels' lives, in how they lived, and we will make a decision about their fate. Did an angel live faithfully, and rightly, or not? You will be the ones who decide. And it's not just angels you will judge-- you will judge the everyday things as well.

Paul picks his argument back up in verse 4 after asking these questions. This verse is complicated, but this is what it looks like before translations clean it up:

(4) Therefore, on the one hand, if you have the courts of justice for the everyday things, the despised/disdained ones by the church -- these ones do you seat?

If you have a dispute over everyday matters, why in the world would you pick someone despised by the church to settle it? Of all the people you could pick, you pick someone who is worthless? You think that judge, who is unrighteous, will make a fine choice?

Paul continues in verse 5:

(5) To your shame I speak.

So isn't there among you, anyone wise

who will be able to reach a decision in the midst between his brothers?,

but is a brother with a brother being judged-- and this before unfaithful ones?

Earlier, Paul had said that he wasn't trying to shame them (1 Cor. 4:14). But here, he absolutely is. The way that they are acting in disputes is shameful, and he wants them to feel this. This is embarrassing. It's humiliating.

The Corinthian church boasts in its wisdom and knowledge. They are puffed up, thinking they are something really special. And here, Paul deflates that. A Christian has a problem with someone else in the church, and he looks around the church, and he thinks to himself-- "there's no one here who can mediate. No one here is wise enough, or impartial enough, to handle this correctly. An unrighteous judge would be a better choice."