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Tuesday, July 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Read the Bible

Bible in Basic English

1 Corinthians 6:6

But a brother who has a cause at law against another takes it before Gentile judges.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Arbitration;   Fraternity;   Lawsuits;   Litigation;   Strife;   Thompson Chain Reference - Church;   Strife;   The Topic Concordance - Judges;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Reproof;   Strife;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Brother;   Judge;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Body of Christ;   Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Synagogue;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Judge (Office);   Philosophy in the New Testament;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Decision;   Paul the Apostle;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Business;   Fellowship;   Retaliation ;   Unbelief;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Infidel;   Unbeliever,;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Leaven;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Peter, the First Epistle of;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Instead, brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers!
King James Version (1611)
But brother goeth to law with brother, & that before the vnbeleeuers?
King James Version
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
English Standard Version
but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
New American Standard Bible
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
New Century Version
But now one believer goes to court against another believer—and you do this in front of unbelievers!
Amplified Bible
but instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that before [judges who are] unbelievers?
New American Standard Bible (1995)
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Legacy Standard Bible
On the contrary, brother is tried with brother, and that before unbelievers!
Berean Standard Bible
Instead, one brother goes to law against another, and this in front of unbelievers!
Contemporary English Version
Why should one of you take another to be tried by unbelievers?
Complete Jewish Bible
Instead, a brother brings a lawsuit against another brother, and that before unbelievers!
Darby Translation
But brother prosecutes his suit with brother, and that before unbelievers.
Easy-to-Read Version
But now one believer goes to court against another, and you let people who are not believers judge their case!
Geneva Bible (1587)
But a brother goeth to law with a brother, and that vnder the infidels.
George Lamsa Translation
But brother goes to court against brother, and at that before unbelievers.
Good News Translation
Instead, one Christian goes to court against another and lets unbelievers judge the case!
Lexham English Bible
But brother goes to court with brother, and this before unbelievers!
Literal Translation
But brother is judged with brother, and this before unbelievers!
American Standard Version
but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Hebrew Names Version
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
International Standard Version
Instead, one brother goes to court against another brother, and before unbelievers at that!
Etheridge Translation
But a brother with his brother litigates, and, moreover, before those who are unbelievers !
Murdock Translation
but a brother litigateth with his brother, and also before them that believe not !
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But one brother goeth to law with another, and that vnder the vnbeleuers?
English Revised Version
but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
World English Bible
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But brother goeth to law with brother, and this before the infidels.
Weymouth's New Testament
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
but a brothir with brothir stryueth in dom, and that among vnfeithful men.
Update Bible Version
but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?
Webster's Bible Translation
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.
New English Translation
Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?
New King James Version
But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
New Living Translation
But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
New Life Bible
Instead, one Christian takes another Christian to court. And that court is made up of people who are not Christians!
New Revised Standard
but a believer goes to court against a believer—and before unbelievers at that?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, brother with brother, sueth for judgment, and that before unbelievers?
Douay-Rheims Bible
But brother goeth to law with brother: and that before unbelievers.
Revised Standard Version
but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but one brother goeth to lawe with another: and that vnder the vnbelevers?
Young's Literal Translation
but brother with brother doth go to be judged, and this before unbelievers!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but one brother goeth to lawe with another, and that before the vnbeleuers?
Mace New Testament (1729)
but when a contest arises, you must refer the decision to infidels?
Simplified Cowboy Version
I guess not! One of God's cowboys are squabbling with another of God's cowboys right out in the open—right in front of unbelievers. That makes our outfit look good doesn't it?

Contextual Overview

1 How is it, that if any one of you has a cause at law against another, he takes it before a Gentile judge and not before the saints? 2 Is it not certain that the saints will be the judges of the world? if then the world will be judged by you, are you unable to give a decision about the smallest things? 3 Is it not certain that we are to be the judges of angels? how much more then of the things of this life? 4 If then there are questions to be judged in connection with the things of this life, why do you put them in the hands of those who have no position in the church? 5 I say this to put you to shame. Is there not among you one wise man who may be able to give a decision between his brothers? 6 But a brother who has a cause at law against another takes it before Gentile judges. 7 More than this, it is not to your credit to have causes at law with one another at all. Why not put up with wrong? why not undergo loss? 8 So far from doing this, you yourselves do wrong and take your brothers' property.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

brother: 1 Corinthians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 6:7, Genesis 13:7-9, Genesis 45:24, Nehemiah 5:8, Nehemiah 5:9, Psalms 133:1-3, Acts 7:26, Philippians 2:14, Philippians 2:15, 1 John 2:9-11, 1 John 3:11-15

Reciprocal: Genesis 13:8 - Let Deuteronomy 15:3 - General Nehemiah 5:1 - their brethren Proverbs 3:30 - General Malachi 2:10 - why Matthew 5:9 - are Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 18:15 - if Romans 12:17 - Provide 1 Corinthians 5:11 - called Galatians 5:15 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 6:8
But Noah had grace in the eyes of God.
Genesis 6:10
And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:17
For truly, I will send a great flow of waters over the earth, for the destruction from under the heaven of all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything on the earth will come to an end.
Genesis 6:18
But with you I will make an agreement; and you will come into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.
Exodus 32:14
So the Lord let himself be turned from his purpose of sending punishment on his people.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, to say what is false; or the son of man, that his purpose may be changed: what he has said, will he not do? and will he not give effect to the words of his mouth?
Deuteronomy 5:29
If only they had such a heart in them at all times, so that they might go in fear of me and keep my orders and that it might be well for them and for their children for ever!
Deuteronomy 32:29
If only they were wise, if only this was clear to them, and they would give thought to their future!
Deuteronomy 32:36
For the Lord will be judge of his people, he will have pity for his servants; when he sees that their power is gone, there is no one, shut up or free.
1 Samuel 15:11
It is no longer my pleasure for Saul to be king; for he is turned back from going in my ways, and has not done my orders. And Samuel was very sad, crying to the Lord in prayer all night.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But brother goeth to law with brother,.... The relation meant is spiritual; it was usual for members of churches to be called brethren, they professing to be born again of the same Father, and belonging to the same family under Christ, the son, firstborn, and master of it: and a very wicked and shameful thing it was, that persons in such a relation, being of such a family, should go to law with one another at all:

and that before the unbelievers; which is an aggravation of their sin and folly. The apostle before calls them "unjust", now "infidels", such as had no faith in Christ, disbelieved the Messiah, and denied the whole Gospel, and therefore no faith or confidence should be put in them; for, generally speaking, such as have no faith, are not only wicked, but unreasonable men, men of no reason, conscience, justice, and equity; and therefore very improper persons for believers to bring their causes before.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But brother ... - One Christian goes to law with another. This is designed as a reproof. This was wrong:

  1. Because they ought rather to take wrong and suffer themselves to be injured 1 Corinthians 6:7;
  2. Because they might have chosen some persons to settle the matter by arbitration without a formal trial; and,
  3. Because the civil constitution would have allowed them to have settled all their differences without a lawsuit.

Josephus says that the Romans (who were now masters of Corinth) permitted the Jews in foreign countries to decide private affairs, where nothing capital was in question, among themselves. And Dr. Lardner observes, that the Christians might have availed themselves of this permission to have settled their disputes in the same manner. Credibility, vol. 1:p. 165.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 6:6. Brother goeth to law with brother — One Christian sues another at law! This is almost as great a scandal as can exist in a Christian society. Those in a religious community who will not submit to a proper arbitration, made by persons among themselves, should be expelled from the Church of God.


 
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