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1: The unjust - The heathens. A Christian could expect no
justice from these. The saints - Who might easily decide these
smaller differences in a private and friendly manner.
2: Know ye not - This expression occurs six times in this
single chapter, and that with a peculiar force; for the
Corinthians knew and gloried in it, but they did not practise.
That the saints - After having been judged themselves. Shall
judge the world - Shall be assessors with Christ in the
judgment wherein he shall condemn all the wicked, as well
angels as men, (Mt 19:28,Re 20:4).
4: Them who are of no esteem in the church - That is,
heathens, who, as such, could be in no esteem with the Christians.
5: Is there not one among you, who are such admirers of
wisdom, that is wise enough to decide such causes?
7: Indeed there is a fault, that ye quarrel with each
other at all, whether ye go to law or no. Why do ye not rather
suffer wrong - All men cannot or will not receive this saying.
Many aim only at this, "I will neither do wrong, nor suffer
it." These are honest heathens, but no Christians.
8: Nay, ye do wrong - Openly. And defraud - Privately.
O how powerfully did the mystery of iniquity already work!
9: Idolatry is here placed between fornication and
adultery, because they generally accompanied it. Nor the
effeminate - Who live in an easy, indolent way; taking up no
cross, enduring no hardship.
But how is this? These good - natured, harmless people are
ranked with idolaters and sodomites! We may learn
hence, that we are never secure from the greatest sins, till
we guard against those which are thought the least; nor,
indeed, till we think no sin is little, since every one is
a step toward hell.
11: And such were some of you: but ye are washed - From
those gross abominations; nay, and ye are inwardly sanctified;
not before, but in consequence of, your being justified in the
name - That is, by the merits, of the Lord Jesus, through which
your sins are forgiven. And by the Spirit of our God - By whom
ye are thus washed and sanctified.
12: All things - Which are lawful for you. Are lawful for
me, but all things are not always expedient - Particularly when
anything would offend my weak brother; or when it would
enslave my own soul. For though all things are lawful for me,
yet I will not be brought under the power of any - So as to be
uneasy when I abstain from it; for, if so, then I am under the
power of it.
13: As if he had said, I speak this chiefly with regard
to meats; (and would to God all Christians would consider it!)
particularly with regard to those offered to idols, and those
forbidden in the Mosaic law. These, I grant, are all
indifferent, and have their use, though it is only for a time:
then meats, and the organs which receive them, will together
moulder into dust. But the case is quite otherwise with
fornication. This is not indifferent, but at all times evil.
For the body is for the Lord - Designed only for his service.
And the Lord, in an important sense, for the body - Being the
Saviour of this, as well as of the soul; in proof of which
God hath already raised him from the dead.
16: (Ge 2:24).
17: But he that is joined to the Lord - By faith. Is one
spirit with him - And shall he make himself one flesh with an
harlot?
18: Flee fornication - All unlawful commerce with women,
with speed, with abhorrence, with all your might. Every sin
that a man commits against his neighbour terminates upon an
object out of himself, and does not so immediately pollute
his body, though it does his soul. But he that committeth
fornication, sinneth against his own body - Pollutes, dishonours,
and degrades it to a level with brute beasts.
19: And even your body is not, strictly speaking, your
own even this is the temple of the Holy Ghost - Dedicated to
him, and inhabited by him. What the apostle calls elsewhere
"the temple of God," (1Co 3:16-17), and
"the temple of the living God," (2Co 6:16),
he here styles the temple of the Holy Ghost; plainly
showing that the Holy Ghost is the living God.
20: Glorify God with your body, and your spirit - Yield
your bodies and all their members, as well as your souls and
all their faculties, as instruments of righteousness to God.
Devote and employ all ye have, and all ye are, entirely,
unreservedly, and for ever, to his glory.
