This verse, 1 Corinthians 6:4, is part of Paul's rebuke to the Corinthian church for their practice of bringing lawsuits against each other in secular courts. To understand the verse, we need to consider the context.
The Problem: The Corinthian Christians were taking their disputes with each other to pagan courts, which were seen as unjust and immoral by Paul.
Paul's Shock: Paul is appalled that Christians would air their dirty laundry before non-believers. He believed that disagreements between believers should be resolved within the church.
The Core of the Verse: “If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?"
Let's break down the verse:
"If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life..." Paul acknowledges that there will be disputes related to worldly matters like contracts, property, or money. He's not saying all judging is wrong, but he's focusing on disputes within the Christian community.
"...do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?" This is the critical part. Paul is sarcastically asking why, if they must have these disputes judged, they would choose to go to outsiders (the pagan courts) who are "of no account" or "least esteemed" in the church.
Meaning:
Paul is being ironic and perhaps a little cutting. He's implying that even the least respected members of the church would be more qualified and more just to resolve these internal disputes than the secular courts and judges. He's challenging their values and priorities. He's saying, "If you absolutely have to have someone judge these matters, surely you have someone in the church, even someone who's not a leader or elder, who would be a better option than these pagan judges!"
In simpler terms:
"If you absolutely have to have someone decide these worldly matters, are you seriously choosing people outside the church, people who aren't even Christians, to be the judges? Surely even the humblest believer in your own community could handle this better!"
Key takeaways:
Internal Resolution: Paul emphasizes resolving conflicts within the Christian community.
Trust in the Church: He believes that even the "least esteemed" members of the church possess more wisdom and integrity than those outside the faith when it comes to settling disputes between believers.
Avoid Scandal: He wants to avoid bringing shame and scandal upon the Christian community by taking internal disputes to secular courts.
Paul's argument here is intended to shame the Corinthians into rethinking their approach to conflict resolution and to encourage them to rely on the resources and wisdom available within their own Christian community.
This verse, 1 Corinthians 6:4, is part of Paul's rebuke to the Corinthian church for their practice of bringing lawsuits against each other in secular courts. To understand the verse, we need to consider the context.
The Problem: The Corinthian Christians were taking their disputes with each other to pagan courts, which were seen as unjust and immoral by Paul.
Paul's Shock: Paul is appalled that Christians would air their dirty laundry before non-believers. He believed that disagreements between believers should be resolved within the church.
The Core of the Verse: “If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?"
Let's break down the verse:
"If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life..." Paul acknowledges that there will be disputes related to worldly matters like contracts, property, or money. He's not saying all judging is wrong, but he's focusing on disputes within the Christian community.
"...do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?" This is the critical part. Paul is sarcastically asking why, if they must have these disputes judged, they would choose to go to outsiders (the pagan courts) who are "of no account" or "least esteemed" in the church.
Meaning:
Paul is being ironic and perhaps a little cutting. He's implying that even the least respected members of the church would be more qualified and more just to resolve these internal disputes than the secular courts and judges. He's challenging their values and priorities. He's saying, "If you absolutely have to have someone judge these matters, surely you have someone in the church, even someone who's not a leader or elder, who would be a better option than these pagan judges!"
In simpler terms:
"If you absolutely have to have someone decide these worldly matters, are you seriously choosing people outside the church, people who aren't even Christians, to be the judges? Surely even the humblest believer in your own community could handle this better!"
Key takeaways:
Internal Resolution: Paul emphasizes resolving conflicts within the Christian community.
Trust in the Church: He believes that even the "least esteemed" members of the church possess more wisdom and integrity than those outside the faith when it comes to settling disputes between believers.
Avoid Scandal: He wants to avoid bringing shame and scandal upon the Christian community by taking internal disputes to secular courts.
Paul's argument here is intended to shame the Corinthians into rethinking their approach to conflict resolution and to encourage them to rely on the resources and wisdom available within their own Christian community.
