TEACHING NOTES Introduction In the last session we learned that the church in Corinth is not only allowing immorality in the church, but they are also proud of it. Paul’s harsh rebuke continues into chapter six where we see that members of the church are taking each other to pagan courts. This small section is sandwiched between two passages about sexual immorality, which seems out of place. However, Paul is simply including this issue with others that he sees as ridiculous behavior. ‌ Problem: Church members are taking their disputes outside the church to unbelieving judges and courts. ‌ Principle: Disputes between church members should be handled within the church. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:1–3 1 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! ‌ Grievance = Grk. pragma - a matter, a thing. In this context pragma refers to a dispute against another member of the church. Since verses 7-8 refer to someone being “defrauded” it is likely that the “grievance” is some kind of financial or business dispute between church members. Often the word pragma is used in Greek writings to refer to property disputes. Paul’s main argument here is based on Deuteronomy 17, where Israel is commanded to deal with disputes within the leaders of Israel. ‌ Deuteronomy 17:8–9 “8 If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose. 9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.” ‌ Go to law = Grk. krinesthai - judge, pass judgment. Paul is referring to Christians taking their disputes to the secular court system. ‌ Before the unrighteous instead of the saints = Paul uses the Greek word adikon to refer to secular/pagan judges. For Paul, the idea that Christians would take their disputes to pagan judges is ridiculous because they do not judge by God’s Word. Paul commands us that disputes between Christians should be handled by “the saints” within the church. ‌ The saints will judge the world = Paul basis for this idea is Daniel 7, where the last days (or latter days) are described. Daniel is shown a vision of four beasts (nations) who try to destroy God’s people “until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom” (Dan. 7:22). Jewish writings before the time of Jesus also taught this idea showing that “the saints will judge the world” was a widely accepted belief. ‌ Incompetent = Grk. anaxios - unworthy, undeserving. Paul is arguing that if the Corinthians cannot handle small church matters, judging the world beside Christ in the end is inconceivable. This implies that how we conduct our churches in this age is extremely important in light of the next age (eternity). ‌ Trivial cases = Grk. elachiston - least important, insignificant. For Paul, these disputes that the Corinthians were taking to pagan courts are trivial issues that should easily be handled within the church family. ‌ We are to judge angels = Not only do humans rebel against God and make themselves enemies of God, there are also rebellious angels and spiritual beings who rebelled against God. We see this in Gen. 3; Gen. 6:1-5; Ezek. 28; Isa. 14:12-15; Jude 6; Rev. 12. On the final judgment day, both evil humans and angels will be judged and removed from God’s new creation (Matt. 13:40-43; Rev. 20:11-15). ‌ The Saints as Judges in Intertestamental Writings: ‌ 1 Enoch 1:9 “For he comes with his ten thousands and his holy ones to enact judgment against all. He will destroy everyone who is ungodly and reproach all flesh concerning all works of the ungodly: the things they did impiously, the harsh words that they spoke and all that ungodly sinners spoke against him.” [quoted in Jude 14-15] ‌ 1 Enoch 38:1 “When the congregation of the righteous shall appear, and sinners shall be judged for their sins, and shall be driven from the face of the earth” ‌ Wisdom of Solomon 3:7–8 “7 And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. 8 They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.” ‌ Jubilees 24:29 “And whoever escapes the sword of the enemy and the Kittim, may the righteous nation root out in judgment from under heaven…” ‌ Other New Testament Passages: ‌ Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” ‌ Revelation 2:26–27 “26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.” ‌ Revelation 3:21 “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” ‌ Revelation 21:7–8 “7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” ‌ In what ways will the saints judge the world? None of the passages that mention the saints judging the world explain exactly what this means. What exactly are we judging? What decision are we making? The Scripture does not answer these questions for us. Whatever this means, it seems that the main idea is that we are co-rulers with Christ in the new creation. Christ is the ultimate Judge and we participate in this in some way. This fits with the major theme in the Bible of God’s desire to partner with His people to do His will. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:4–6 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? ‌ Such cases = Refers to “trivial cases” from verse two. ‌ No standing in the church = Grk. exouthenemenous en te ekklesia - This refers to pagan judges whose way of life is despised (Grk. exoutheneo) by the church. Roman law not only condoned but also encouraged what the Bible deems immoral. It would make no sense to allow unholy pagans to settle disputes in God’s holy church. ‌ I say this to your shame = Paul is saying that when Christians take their disputes to be judged by unbelievers, it is shameful and humiliating to the church. Roman culture was highly driven by honor and shame—often referred to as an “honor-and-shame society.” To be shamed in that culture was devastating. ‌ No one wise enough among you = Paul seems to be shocked that there was no one wise enough to settle disputes within the church. There may have been some who were wise enough, but the church was acting as if there weren’t. It could be that the church simply didn’t want to deal with conflict in the church. It could be that the leaders are not being leaders at all. ‌ Before unbelievers = Not only are they allowing unbelievers to judge, but the dispute is now public. This puts a black eye on the testimony of the church. When disputes in the church are taken to public courts and judges, it becomes a matter of public record. In the modern world, the media loves the opportunity to highlight discord in the body of Christ. ‌ 1 Corinthians 6:7–8 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers! ‌ Already a defeat for you = The Greek word for “defeat” here is hettema, which means “loss” or “failure.” Even if these church members were suing each other within the church, it would still be a failure. The fact that there are disputes at all indicates that the church is not being faithful followers of Jesus. ‌ Why not suffer wrong, be defrauded? = Paul is saying that it would be better to suffer being wronged or defrauded than to take church disputes to pagan courts. This is based on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:39–40 “39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.” ‌ You yourselves wrong and defraud = Paul is making a similar point as he does to the Romans (Rom. 2:1). Not only are they suing other church members for defrauding them, but they are also defrauding church members. These believers are being hypocrites in that they are suing others for doing what they do themselves. ‌ Even your own brothers = It would be bad enough for a Christian to mistreat an unbeliever (or “outsider” as Paul would say—see 1 Cor. 5:12; 14:16, 23-24; Col. 4:5; 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7), but it is even worse to mistreat someone in God’s family. The apostles taught that the church should be holy—meaning different and unique from the rest of the world. It is common to be mistreated in the unbelieving world. The church is to be uncommon in the way we treat one another. The early church was known for being so unique that some ancient Roman writers comment on how different the Christians lived. ‌ The Modern Problem: In the ancient world, the church was not a legal entity or organization but a community/family. In the modern world, most churches are legal entities that are officially recognized and registered as non-profit corporations. This has advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage is that the church is exempt from paying income taxes on donations, property taxes, and sales taxes on purchases. One possible disadvantage is the fact that churches can be sued in secular courts. As a result, there are many current lawsuits where members and/or former members are suing their churches over disputes that should have been settled in house. ‌ Conclusion ‌Disputes within the church should stay within the church. ‌Disputes within the church should be rare. ‌Unresolved disputes should not exist in the church. ‌