1 Corinthians, 6
He blames them for going to law before unbelievers. Of sins that exclude from the kingdom of heaven. The evil of fornication.
[1] Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust: and not before the saints? •
[2] Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
[3] Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things of this world? •
[4] If therefore you have judgments of things pertaining to this world, set them to judge who are the most despised in the church. •
[5] I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not among you any one wise man that is able to judge between his brethren?
[6] But brother goeth to law with brother: and that before unbelievers.
[7] Already indeed there is plainly a fault 1 among you, that you have law suits one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? •
A fault: Lawsuits can hardly ever be without a fault, on the one side or the other; and oftentimes on both sides.
[8] But you do wrong and defraud: and that to your brethren.
[9] Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: Neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers:
[10] Nor the effeminate nor liers with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor railers nor extortioners shall possess the kingdom of God.
[11] And such some of you were. But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God. •
[12] All things are lawful 1 to me: but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me: but I will not be brought under the power of any. •
All things are lawful: That is, all indifferent things are indeed lawful, inasmuch as they are not prohibited; but oftentimes they are not expedient; as in the case of lawsuits, etc. And much less would it be expedient to be enslaved by an irregular affection to any thing, how indifferent soever.
[13] Meat for the belly and the belly for the meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord: and the Lord for the body. •
[14] Now God hath raised up the Lord and will raise us up also by his power.
[15] Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid! •
[16] Or know you not that he who is joined to a harlot is made one body? For they shall be, saith he, two in one flesh. •
[17] But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
[18] Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth is without the body: but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. •
[19] Or know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God: and you are not your own? •
[20] For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body. •