B. Lawsuits (6:1-8)

The issue here as in ch. 5 is the Corinthians' failure to exercise proper judgment. Both passages insist upon the competence of Christians to judge wrongdoing. In ch. 5 judgment implies the necessary condemnation of sinning believers; in ch. 6 judgment implies the unfortunate necessity of deciding between competing claims of believers. Paul apparently shares the Jewish apocalyptic view that believers at the eschaton will judge the world (Da 7:22; Wis. 3:8; Mt 19:28; Lk 22:30). Thus they must be more than competent to judge misdemeanors.

Legal disputes between members of the Christian community were being taken into the civil courts. Paul is distressed that they paraded their disharmonies before the ungodly public instead of arbitrating them internally, which was the normal practice in Jewish communities (Héring, 39). No matter who wins the case, the very existence of public lawsuits among Christians is a moral defeat for the church. In the interests of the Christian community, Paul urges them to put aside their personal grievances, to forgive, and to surrender their rights rather than fight for them. To accept being wronged is better than to wrong, particularly fellow Christians.