1 Corinthians 6:4

1 Corinthians 6:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
• New International Version (NIV)Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?
• English Standard Version (ESV)So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?
• New King James Version (NKJV)If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?

Context of 1 Corinthians 6:4

2Do you not know that the saints (God’s people) will [one day] judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to try trivial (insignificant, petty) cases? 3Do you not know that we [believers] will judge angels? How much more then [as to] matters of this life? So if you have lawsuits dealing with matters of this life, are you appointing those as judges [to hear disputes] who are of no account in the church? 5I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is not one wise man among you who [is governed by integrity and] will be able and competent to decide [private disputes] between his fellow believers, 6but instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that before [judges who are] unbelievers?

1 Corinthians 6:4 word by word

βιωτικὰ μὲν οὖν κριτήρια ἐὰν ἔχητε, τοὺς ἐξουθενημένους ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, τούτους καθίζετε.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ye haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• judgmentsκριτήριονkritērion · court/lawsuitG2922
• of things pertaining to this lifeβιωτικόςbiōtikos · of this lifeG982
• setκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
• themοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• to judge who are least esteemedἐξουθενέωexoutheneō · to rejectG1848
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 6:4

• 1 Corinthians 5:12For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders (non-believers)? Do you not judge those who are within the church [to protect the church as the situation requires]?
• Acts 6:2So the Twelve called the disciples together and said, “It is not appropriate for us to neglect [teaching] the word of God in order to serve tables and manage the distribution of food.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 6:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Things 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. Who are least esteemed in the Church - , 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.: - The great Sanhedrin, consisting of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Ye have judgments - Causes; controversies; suits. Things pertaining to this life - Property, etc. Set them to judge … - The verb translated set ́ kathizetemay 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6I say this to your shame: It is a problem for Christians to settle disputes in non-religious courts, as if no one in the church can help resolve them.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. judgments--that is, cases for judgment. least esteemed--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.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 6:4

• Arbitration
• Fraternity
• Lawsuits
• Litigation
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Extortioner
• Judgment
• Price
• Wash
• Ye
• Church Government
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Esteem
• Judgment Seat

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings