collapse all  

Text -- 1 Corinthians 6:4 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
6:4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Strife | PETER, THE FIRST EPISTLE OF | Litigation | Lawsuits | LIFE | JUDGMENT SEAT | Fraternity | ESTEEM | Corinth | Arbitration | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Co 6:4 - -- If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life ( biōtika men oun kritēria ean echēte ). Note emphatic position (proleptic) of biōtik...

If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life ( biōtika men oun kritēria ean echēte ).

Note emphatic position (proleptic) of biōtika kritēria (tribunals pertaining to this life, as above). "If ye have tribunals pertaining to this life"(condition of third class, ean echēte ). If kathizete (do ye set) is indicative and interrogative, then by "who are of no account in the church"(tous exouthenēmenous en tēi ekklēsiāi ) Paul means the heathen as in 1Co 6:1. If kathizete be imperative, then Paul means the least esteemed members of the church for such unwished for work. It is a harsh term for the heathen, but one of indignation toward Christians.

Vincent: 1Co 6:4 - -- Judgments ( κριτήρια ) Better, tribunals or courts , as 1Co 6:2. If you have to hold courts for the settlement of private matters.

Judgments ( κριτήρια )

Better, tribunals or courts , as 1Co 6:2. If you have to hold courts for the settlement of private matters.

Vincent: 1Co 6:4 - -- Set ( καθίζετε ) Seat them as judges on the tribunal. It is disputed whether καθίζετε is to be taken as imperative, set (A...

Set ( καθίζετε )

Seat them as judges on the tribunal. It is disputed whether καθίζετε is to be taken as imperative, set (A.V.), or as interrogative, do ye set (Rev.). The A.V. seems, on the whole, preferable. The passage is well paraphrased by Farrar. " Dare they, the destined judges of the world and of angels, go to law about mere earthly trifles, and that before the heathen? Why did they not rather set up the very humblest members of the Church to act as judges in such matters?"

Wesley: 1Co 6:4 - -- That is, heathens, who, as such, could be in no esteem with the Christians.

That is, heathens, who, as such, could be in no esteem with the Christians.

JFB: 1Co 6:4 - -- That is, cases for judgment.

That is, cases for judgment.

JFB: 1Co 6:4 - -- Literally, "those of no esteem." Any, however low in the Church, rather than the heathen (1Co 1:28). Questions of earthly property are of secondary co...

Literally, "those of no esteem." Any, however low in the Church, rather than the heathen (1Co 1:28). Questions of earthly property are of secondary consequence in the eyes of true Christians, and are therefore delegated to those in a secondary position in the Church.

Clarke: 1Co 6:4 - -- Things pertaining to this life - They could examine all civil cases among themselves, which they were permitted to determine without any hinderance ...

Things pertaining to this life - They could examine all civil cases among themselves, which they were permitted to determine without any hinderance from the heathen governments under which they lived

Clarke: 1Co 6:4 - -- Who are least esteemed in the Church - Τους εξουθενημενους, Those who were in the lowest order of judges; for the apostle may ref...

Who are least esteemed in the Church - Τους εξουθενημενους, Those who were in the lowest order of judges; for the apostle may refer here to the order in the Jewish benches, as Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, of which there were five, viz.: -

1.    The great Sanhedrin, consisting of seventy-two elders, which presided in Jerusalem

2.    The little Sanhedrin of twenty-five, in large cities, out of Jerusalem

3.    The Bench of Three in every synagogue

4.    The Authorized, or Authentic Bench

5.    The Bench not authorized, εξουθενημενος . This latter bench was so called because it received not its authority immediately from the Sanhedrin, but was chosen by the parties between whom the controversy depended. The apostle certainly does not mean persons of no repute, but such as these arbitrators, who were chosen for the purpose of settling private differences, and preventing them from going before the regular magistrates. The following verse makes it pretty evident that the apostle refers to this lower kind of tribunal; and hence he says, -

Calvin: 1Co 6:4 - -- 4.If you have judgments then as to things pertaining to this life We must always keep in view what causes he is treating of; for public trials are be...

4.If you have judgments then as to things pertaining to this life We must always keep in view what causes he is treating of; for public trials are beyond our province, and ought not to be transferred to our disposal; but as to private matters it is allowable to determine without the cognizance of the magistrate. As, then, we do not detract in any degree from the authority of the magistrate by having recourse to arbitration, it is not without good reason that the Apostle enjoins it upon Christians to refrain from resorting to profane, that is, unbelieving judges. And lest they should allege that they were deprived of a better remedy, he directs them to choose out of the Church arbiters, who may settle causes agreeably and equitably. Farther, lest they should allege that they have not a sufficient number of qualified persons, he says that the meanest is competent to discharge this office. There is, therefore, no detracting here from the dignity of the office of magistrates, when he gives orders that their office be committed to contemptible persons, for this (as I have already said) is stated by anticipation, as though he had said: “Even the lowest and meanest among you will discharge this office better than those unbelieving judges to whom you have recourse. So far are you from necessity in this way.”

Chrysostom comes near this interpretation, though he appends to it something additional; for he is of opinion, that the Apostle meant to say, that, even though the Corinthians should find no one among themselves who had sufficient wisdom for judging, they must nevertheless make choice of some, of whatever stamp they were. Ambrose touches neither heaven nor earth. 327 I think I have faithfully brought out the Apostle’s intention — that the lowest among believers was preferred by him to unbelievers, as to capacity of judging. There are some that strike out a quite different meaning, for they understand the word καθιζετε to be in the present tense — You set them to judge, and by those that are least esteemed in the Church they understand profane persons. 328 This, however, is more ingenious than solid, for that were a poor designation of unbelievers. 329 Besides, the form of expression, if you have, would not suit so well with a reproof, for the expression would have required rather to be while you have, for that condition takes away from the force of it. Hence I am the more inclined to think, that a remedy for the evil is here prescribed.

That this statement, however, was taken up wrong by the ancients, appears from a certain passage in Augustine. For in his book — “On the Work of Monks,” where he makes mention of his employments, he declares that among his numerous engagements, the most disagreeable of all was, that he was under the necessity of devoting a part of the day to secular affairs, but that he at the same time endured it patiently, because the Apostle 330 had imposed upon him this necessity. From this passage, and from a certain epistle, it appears that the bishops were accustomed to sit at certain hours to settle disputes, as if the Apostle had been referring to them here. As, however, matters always become worse, there sprang from this error, in process of time, that jurisdiction which the officials of the bishops assume to themselves in money matters. In that ancient custom there are two things that are deserving of reproof — that the bishops were involved in matters that were foreign to their office; and that they wronged God in making his authority and command a pretext for turning aside from their proper calling. The evil, however, was in some degree excusable, but as for the profane custom, which has come to prevail in the Papacy, it were the height of baseness to excuse or defend it.

TSK: 1Co 6:4 - -- ye : 1Co 5:12 who : Act 6:2-4 least : The apostle perhaps meant that the meanest persons in the church were competent to decide the causes which they ...

ye : 1Co 5:12

who : Act 6:2-4

least : The apostle perhaps meant that the meanest persons in the church were competent to decide the causes which they brought before the heathen magistrates.

collapse all
Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Co 6:4 - -- Ye have judgments - Causes; controversies; suits. Things pertaining to this life - Property, etc. Set them to judge ... - The verb ...

Ye have judgments - Causes; controversies; suits.

Things pertaining to this life - Property, etc.

Set them to judge ... - The verb translated set καθίζετε kathizete may be either in the imperative mood, as in our translation, and then it will imply a command; or it may be regarded as in the indicative, and to be rendered interrogatively, "Do ye set or appoint them to judge who are of little repute for their wisdom and equity?"that is, pagan magistrates. The latter is probably the correct rendering, as according to the former no good reason can be given why Paul should command them to select as judges those who had little repute for wisdom in the church. Had he designed this as a command, he would doubtless have directed them to choose their most aged, wise and experienced men, instead of those "least esteemed."It is manifest, therefore, that this is to he read as a question: "Since you are abundantly qualified yourselves to settle your own differences, do you employ the pagan magistrates, in whom the church can have little confidence for their integrity and justice?"It is designed, therefore, as a severe reproof for what they had been accustomed to do; and an implied injunction that they should do it no more.

Who are least esteemed - ( ἐξουθενημένους exouthenēmenous ). Who are "contemned,"or regarded as of no value or worth; in whose judgment and integrity you can have little or no confidence. According to the interpretation given above of the previous part of the verse this refers to the pagan magistrates - to people in whose virtue, piety and qualifications for just judgment Christians could have little confidence; and whose judgment must be regarded as in fact of very little value, and as very little likely to be correct. That the pagan magistrates were in general very corrupt, there can be no doubt. Many of them were people of abandoned character, of dissipated lives, men who were easily bribed, and people, therefore, in whose judgment Christians could repose little confidence. Paul reproves the Corinthians for going before them with their disputes when they could better settle them themselves. Others, however, who regard this whole passage as an instruction to Christians to appoint those to determine their controversies who were least esteemed, suppose that this refers to the "lowest orders"of judges among the Hebrews; to those who were least esteemed, or who were almost despised; and that Paul directs them to select even them in preference to the pagan magistrates. See Lightfoot. But the objection to this is obvious and insuperable. Paul would not have recommended this class of people to decide their causes, but would have recommended the selection of the most wise and virtuous among them. This is proved by 1Co 6:5, where, in directing them to settle their matters among themselves, he asks whether there is not a "wise man"among them, clearly proving that he wished their difficulties adjusted, not by the most obscure and the least respected members of the church, but by the most wise and intelligent members.

In the church - By the church. That is, the pagan magistrates evince such a character as not to be worthy of the confidence of the church in settling matters of controversy.

Poole: 1Co 6:4 - -- If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life that is, if you have any cause of suing or impleading one another for things that pertain ...

If then ye have judgment of things pertaining to this life that is, if you have any cause of suing or impleading one another for things that pertain to this life, be they of what nature they will,

set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church rather commit the umpirage and determination of such little differences to the meanest members of your church, than go to contend before pagans and infidels: or do not employ your teachers about them, who have higher work to be employed in; but employ those who are of a lower order in the church, and whose business and concerns lie in secular affairs.

Haydock: 1Co 6:4-7 - -- Set them to judge, who are the most despised in the Church. Rather make choice of Christians of lesser parts and talents, than have recourse to infi...

Set them to judge, who are the most despised in the Church. Rather make choice of Christians of lesser parts and talents, than have recourse to infidels, who will be scandalized at the injuries and injustice done by Christians to each other. Besides you cannot but have some wise men among you to decide such matters. (Witham) ---

St. Paul does not here mean to tell the Corinthians that they must choose the most despised and the most ignorant, but he wishes to inform them that if there were none but men of this description in the Church, it would still be more preferable to appoint these judges than to go to law before idolatrous judges. (Estius) ---

It is plainly a fault, [1] weakness in you to run to such heathen judges: you should rather bear, and put up with the injuries done to you. ---

A fault. Law-suits can hardly ever be without a fault, on one side or the other; and oftentimes on both sides. (Challoner)

Gill: 1Co 6:4 - -- If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life,.... Not judgements relating to life and death, for these were not in the power of a Jewis...

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life,.... Not judgements relating to life and death, for these were not in the power of a Jewish sanhedrim now, and much less of a Christian community, but were wholly in the power of the Roman magistrates; but judgments relating to the common affairs of life, or what the Jews call דיני ממונות, "pecuniary judgments" b, in distinction from דיני נפשות, "judgments of souls", or capital ones. The Jews say c,

"that forty years before the destruction of the temple, capital judgments were taken from Israel; and in the days of R. Simeon ben Jochai, pecuniary judgments were taken away from Israel.''

Now this Rabbi lived many years after the times of the apostles, so that as yet the Jews had a power of exercising such judgments; and no doubt the Christian's also, who as yet were very little, if at all, distinguished from the Jews by the Romans: and therefore since such judgments were within the compass of their authority, the apostle advises

to set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church; meaning, not those of the lowest circumstances of life, and of the meanest abilities and capacities; for in the next verse he requires a wise man for such a business; but private persons, laymen, who were not in any office and authority in the church, in distinction from pastors, elders, and rulers, that were in office, power, and high esteem, whom he would not have troubled with cases of this nature; but should rather choose out from among the laity persons of the best judgment and capacity, to be umpires and arbitrators in such worldly matters, which do not so properly come under the notice and cognizance of spiritual guides. The phrase, "to judge", is not in the original text, where it is only καθιζετε, "set", or "put in the chair"; but is added in the Vulgate Latin version; and to which agree both the Syriac and Arabic versions; the former reading the words, "they that are despised in the church, set for you in judgment"; and the latter, "make them to sit judges". The Jews, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, besides their great sanhedrim of seventy one persons, and that other of twenty three in their cities of note, and their triumvirate in every synagogue, had also two sorts of benches, who judged of lesser matters; the one was called בית דין של מומחין, "the bench of authorized persons", experienced men, that were approved of, and had their authority from the sanhedrim; and the other was called בית דין של הדיוטות, "the bench of idiots" d, or private persons, or בית דין שאינן מומחין, "the bench of those who were not authorized" e, or had not their authority, from the higher courts; but being judged proper persons, were chosen by the people to arbitrate matters in difference between them; and these are the men the apostle means, at least alludes to, before whom he would have the causes brought.

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Co 6:4 Or “if you have ordinary lawsuits, appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church!” This alternative reading (cf. KJV, NIV) ta...

Geneva Bible: 1Co 6:4 ( 4 ) If then ye have ( c ) judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are ( d ) least esteemed in the church. ( 4 ) The conc...

expand all
Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Co 6:1-20 - --1 The Corinthians must not vex their brethren, in going to law with them;6 especially under infidels.9 The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom o...

MHCC: 1Co 6:1-8 - --Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels ...

Matthew Henry: 1Co 6:1-8 - -- Here the apostle reproves them for going to law with one another before heathen judges for little matters; and therein blames all vexatious law-sui...

Barclay: 1Co 6:1-8 - --Paul is dealing with a problem which specially affected the Greeks. The Jews did not ordinarily go to law in the public law courts at all; they sett...

Constable: 1Co 1:10--7:1 - --II. Conditions reported to Paul 1:10--6:20 The warm introduction to the epistle (1:1-9) led Paul to give a stron...

Constable: 1Co 5:1--6:20 - --B. Lack of discipline in the church chs. 5-6 The second characteristic in the Corinthian church reported...

Constable: 1Co 6:1-11 - --2. Litigation in the church 6:1-11 The apostle continued to deal with the general subject of dis...

Constable: 1Co 6:1-6 - --The shame on the church 6:1-6 The failure of the two men who were suing each other was another evidence that the Corinthian church was not functioning...

College: 1Co 6:1-20 - --1 CORINTHIANS 6 B. LAWSUITS AMONG BELIEVERS (6:1-11) 1. Settling Disputes in the Church (6:1-8) 1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he...

McGarvey: 1Co 6:4 - --If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?

Lapide: 1Co 6:1-20 - --CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. The Apostle passes on to the subject of lawsuits and trials, and reproves the Corinthians for instituting proc...

expand all
Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) First Corinthians From Ephesus a.d. 54 Or 55 By Way of Introduction It would be a hard-boiled critic today who would dare deny the genuineness o...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 47], POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 11], and...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Outline) THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. ...

TSK: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Co 6:1, The Corinthians must not vex their brethren, in going to law with them; 1Co 6:6, especially under infidels; 1Co 6:9, The unright...

Poole: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6

MHCC: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct ...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) (1Co 6:1-8) Cautions against going to law in heathen courts. (1Co 6:9-11) Sins which, if lived and died in, shut out from the kingdom of God. (1Co 6...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that partic...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle, I. Reproves them for going to law with one another about small matters, and bringing the cause before heathen judges ...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) The Folly Of The Law Courts (1Co_6:1-8) Such Were Some Of You (1Co_6:9-11) Bought With A Price (1Co_6:12-20)

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Corinth had a long history stretching back into the...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-9 A. Salutation 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 ...

Constable: 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Bibliography Adams, Jay. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb...

Haydock: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. INTRODUCTION. Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a very rich and populous city...

Gill: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having ...

Gill: 1 Corinthians 6 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 6 The principal view of this chapter is to dissuade Christians from going to law with one another before Heathens, an...

College: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of books, articles, and commentaries on First Corinthians, a brief word to t...

College: 1 Corinthians (Outline) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION - 1:1-9 A. Salutation - 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving - 1:4-9 II. DISUNITY AND COMMUNITY FRAGMENTATION - 1:10-4:21 A. ...

Advanced Commentary (Dictionaries, Hymns, Arts, Sermon Illustration, Question and Answers, etc)


TIP #20: 'To dig deeper, please read related articles at BIBLE.org (via Articles Tab).' [ALL]
created in 0.08 seconds
powered by
bible.org - YLSA