Brother Suing Brother 1 Corinthians 6:6

Paul the apostle wrote to the Corinthian church concerning “lawsuits” that were being brought before “the world's judges” rather than within the church itself, and he asked, “Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” In chapter six and verse six of First Corinthians, Paul shared how, “brother goes to law with brother” within the church where we read:

But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

The verse begins, “But brother goes to law with brother,” Paul began with the words, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “” “brother” which refers to “a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection” “goes to law” which means “separates, puts asunder, picks out, selects, chooses, is of opinion, determines, resolves and decrees” “with brother” or “after or against a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection”. Paul noted how “brothers” within the church were “suing” one another.

The verse continues, “... and that before the unbelievers.” Paul added the words, “and that before” which means “and the suing was in front of and across from”“the unbelievers” which means “incredulous, unfaithful, faithless and perfidious people”. The church members in Corinth were not only “suing” one another, but also doing so with “unbelievers” as their “judges”.

When we think through these words from Paul, we may marvel that “brothers” in Christ were “suing” “brothers” in Christ within the church at Corinth, but this was only part of the problem. They were “suing” one another before “worldly” and “non-believing” “judges”. When people receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, they become part of His church, and they should be able to “govern” or “evaluate” themselves, but this was not the case in Corinth. Let us keep in mind the church is Jesus Christ's bride, and those within the church should behave in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Let us put away “going to law” against one another within the church and bear witness to the world that Jesus' church is His “pure and holy” bride.

Next time Paul asks the church members, “why do you not rather take wrong?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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