This chapter consists of two distinct paragraphs. The first, vs. 1-11, relates to lawsuits before heathen magistrates. The second, vs. 12-20, to the abuse which some had made of the principle, "All things are lawful."
On going to law before the heathen. Vs. 1-11.
Paul expresses surprise that any Christian should prosecute a fellow Christian before a heathen judge, v. 1. If Christians are destined to judge the world, and even angels, they may surely settle among themselves their worldly affairs, vs. 2. 3. If they had such suits, must they appoint those whom the church could not esteem to decide them ? Was there not one man among themselves able to act as a judge ? vs. 4-6. It was a great evil that they had such lawsuits. It would be better to submit to injustice, v. 7. Instead, however, of sub- mitting to wrong, they committed it, v. 8. He solemnly as- sures them that the unjust, or rapacious, or corrupt should not inherit the kingdom of God, vs. 9. 10. They had been such, but as Christians they were washed from these defile- ments, and justified through Christ and by his Spirit, v. 11.
1. Dare any of you, having a matter against an- other, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints ?
The third evil in the church of Corinth which the apostle endeavours to correct, was the prosecuting legal suits before heathen judges. There was no necessity for this practice. The Roman laws allowed the Jews to settle their disputes