1 Corinthians 6:1

Dare any of you. Paul now deals with another serious error in the church, that of church members going to law before heathen judges instead of settling their differences among themselves. Such a course was contrary to the teachings of Christ (see Matt. 18:15-17) and hence out of harmony with the nature of Christianity. The feeling expressed in the phrase, “dare any of you,” is one of surprise that any church member would have the temerity to take a fellow believer to a heathen court to settle a quarrel. Do you not fear, suggested the apostle, to expose the weaknesses of church members before those who do not love the Lord?

Having a matter. As long as we are in this sinful world there will be differences of opinion among men, even in the church of God. These cannot be avoided, but care must be exercised in selecting the right method for settling them, and in manifesting the proper spirit when such a settlement is sought. The existence of serious differences of opinion in the church indicates an absence of that spirit of unity and love that Christ prayed for shortly before His crucifixion (see John 17:11, 21-26).

Against another. Obviously the responsibility for taking the matter before unbelievers is laid upon the plaintiff. He has the privilege of selecting the tribunal before which he would have his case examined. “Another” here has reference to another believer. It would not be practical to bring unbelievers before the church for trial. This discussion deals with difficulties between church members.

Unjust. Gr. adikoi, “unrighteous.” The term is here contrasted with “saints” and refers to non-Christians. It does not necessarily imply that heathen courts were always unjust in their decisions, or that one could never hope to obtain justice from them.

The saints. The Jews did not permit their disputes to go before Gentile courts. It was a law among them that differences between Jews should be referred to the consideration of approved men of their own faith and nation (see Talmud Gitdn 88b, Soncino ed., pp. 429, 430). Gallio, the Roman deputy at Corinth, apparently knew this when he refused to listen to the accusations made by the Jews against Paul (see Acts 18:15). Christians who took their differences to heathen tribunals thereby admitted that their communal loyalty to the church was inferior to that of the Jews.

The Lord Himself gave instruction concerning the procedure to be followed for settling troubles between church members (see Matt. 18:15-18). For brother to go to law against brother brings dishonor to the church and belittles the power of God to guide and control His people in all the affairs of their lives (see AA 306).