“If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.”
Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! — The sarcasm cuts sharply: the Corinthians are taking petty lawsuits to pagan magistrates when even the 'least qualified' believer would be preferable. The phrase exouthenēmenous en tē ekklēsia (those without account in the church) emphasizes that spiritual discernment, not worldly status, determines fitness to judge. The rhetorical force underscores how degrading this practice appears.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 6:4
“If then you have to judge things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are of no account in the Church.” Wishing to instruct us as forcibly as possible that they ought not to commit themselves to those without, whatsoever the matter may be; having raised what seemed to be an objection, he answers it in the first instance. For what he says is something like this: Perhaps some one will say, “No one among you is wise, nor competent to pass sentence; all are…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!