1Now how can any of you dare go to court before the unrighteous (and not before the saints) when there is a matter against a neighbor? 2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?1762 And if the world is [to be] judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more, then, things that pertain to this life?
4And now, if you need to judge things pertaining to this life, why do you place yourselves under judges who are irrelevant in the Church? 5I say this to move you to shame. Is there not even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?1763 6Yet, [I hear of] lawsuits among the brethren, and that in front of unbelievers! 7Now therefore, this is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 8No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and [you do] that against your brethren!
Immorality
9Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral,1764 nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor sodomites, 10nor the greedy, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
11Some of you used to be like that, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.1765 12[You say:] “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be brought under the power of anything. 13”Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food,” but God will bring to nothing both of these. However, the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is [made] for the body. 14Now God raised up the Lord, and he will also raise us up by his power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16Or do you not know that whoever is joined to a prostitute is one body? For God says, “The two will become one flesh.”1766 17But whoever is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a person can do is outside the body,” but whoever commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19Or do you1767 not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit which dwells in you, and which you have from God? You are not your own! 20You were bought with a price! Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which belong to God.1768
About marriage and marital relations
- Compare Wisdom 3:8
- Or “brethren”
- The Greek word includes all forms for sexual immorality, including all sexual relations outside of marriage.
- Compare with the Orthodox rite of Baptism and Chrismation.
- Genesis 2:24
- Plural “you” in verse 19.
- CT omits “and in your spirit, which belong to God”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
