1st Corinthians 6

 

1 (How) dare any of you, having a matter against another (brother), go to court before the unjust (who judge according to the wisdom of the world), and not before the saints (of God)?

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?

3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things which pertain to this life?

4 If then you have matters that need to be settled pertaining to the things of this life, (you ought to) set them to be judged by those who are (humble and) least esteemed in the church.

5 I speak this to your shame. Do you mean to say that there is not a wise man among you? no, not even one that is able to arbitrate a matter between his brothers?

6 But (instead) brother goes to court with brother and does this before unbelievers.

7 Now (this reveals), therefore, there is utterly a fault (a sense of loss suffered) among you (that causes you to stumble at the truth), because you would go to court one with another (believer before an unjust judge). Why not rather accept the wrong (committed against you)? Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded?

8 No, (instead) you do wrong, and defraud, and do these things to your brothers.

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous (who seek to establish their own lives and justice) will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers (who fornicate with other gods), nor effeminate (one who submits his body to unnatural lewdness), nor abusers of themselves (who dishonor their bodies),

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanders, nor extortionists, (who do these things to father their own lives with the life they can get from the world) will (experience or) inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And (in times past) such were some of you: but you are washed (free from death), but you are sanctified (unto a life that cannot suffer injury), but you are justified (freely by His grace from all death’s accusations) in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

12 All things are permissible to me (and within my power to do), but not all things are profitable: All things are permissible for me, but I will not (look to or) be brought under the power of anything (in this world that is not able to serve me with His incorruptible life).

13 (Indeed) meats (are) for the belly, and the belly for meats (but neither are profitable unto an incorruptible life): but (the wisdom of) God brings to nothing both the meat (that perishes with use) and the belly (which can never satisfy with His life). Now the body is not (made) for (nor does it profit from) fornication (with other gods), but for the Lord (to dwell); and the Lord for the body (to be served with immortality).

14 And God has both raised up the (body of the) Lord (Jesus) and will also raise us up (in bodily immortality) by His own power.

15 Do you not know that your bodies are the members of (the body of) Christ? Should I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of idolatry (which is like joining myself to an harlot)? God forbid.

16 What? Do you not know that he that is joined to the harlot is one body (with iniquity)? For the two, He said, will become one flesh.

17 But he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit (with the hope of the same life and immortality).

18 Flee (therefore) fornication (which is unprofitable for you to experience His life). Everything a man does to father his own life is outside of the body; but he that commits fornication trespasses against his own body.

19 What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which (Spirit) you have (received) from God, and you are not (raised immortal by) your own (spirit)?

20 For you are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God (as the only One who can serve you with immortality) in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.