Meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:3

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:3, is addressing a deeply concerning issue within the Corinthian church: their propensity to take one another to secular courts for dispute resolution. He uses the startling assertion that believers will judge angels to underscore the profound spiritual authority and responsibility entrusted to them, thereby highlighting the incongruity of them engaging in petty legal battles over earthly matters. This statement is not a literal declaration of believers serving as judges in a celestial courtroom in the present, but rather a rhetorical device to emphasize the elevated status and future role of the redeemed community within God's cosmic plan. By contrasting the triviality of their current legal squabbles with the monumental task of judging angels, Paul aims to shock the Corinthians out of their shortsightedness and redirect their focus toward their ultimate destiny and the principles of spiritual order.

Context and Background

The immediate context of 1 Corinthians 6 is Paul's rebuke of believers suing each other in pagan courts. He expresses his astonishment that "any one of you, when he has a matter against another, dares to go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints" (1 Cor 6:1). This practice demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of the church's identity and purpose, suggesting a reliance on worldly systems rather than internal spiritual maturity and reconciliation. The Corinthian church was plagued by divisions, immorality, and a lack of discernment, and their resort to secular justice was a symptom of these deeper issues.

Key Themes and Messages

• Elevated Status of Believers: The verse emphasizes the high calling and future destiny of those who are united with Christ. The ability to "judge angels" signifies a future role in God's ultimate judgment, placing believers in a position of authority that far surpasses earthly concerns.
• Spiritual Authority vs. Worldly Systems: Paul contrasts the spiritual authority of the redeemed community with the limited and often unrighteous systems of the world. The implication is that believers should be capable of resolving their differences internally through wisdom and love, rather than seeking recourse from those outside the divine order.
• Future Responsibility: The judgment of angels points to a future eschatological reality where God's people will participate in His final justice. This future role is presented as a stark contrast to their present preoccupation with minor disputes.
• Discernment and Wisdom: The ability to judge implies discernment and wisdom, qualities that Paul urges the Corinthians to cultivate and apply to their relationships and community life.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance for believers today lies in understanding our future authority and the importance of present spiritual maturity. While we do not literally judge angels now, this verse calls us to live in light of our ultimate destiny as co-heirs with Christ, who will reign with Him. It challenges us to:

• Prioritize spiritual reconciliation: Instead of resorting to legal battles or contentious disputes, believers are encouraged to seek peaceful resolution and forgiveness within the community.
• Exercise discernment: We are called to be wise in our judgments and to apply godly principles to all aspects of life, recognizing that our ultimate accountability is to God.
• Live according to our heavenly calling: Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20), and our priorities should reflect this, looking beyond temporary earthly matters to eternal realities.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching biblical narrative of God's redemptive plan and the restoration of creation. In Genesis, humanity fell, and the dominion entrusted to them was compromised. Through Christ, believers are restored to a place of honor and authority, participating in God's ultimate victory over evil, including angelic rebellion. The final judgment described in Revelation involves Christ and His saints (Revelation 20:4), underscoring the future role of the redeemed in God's justice. This verse serves as a preview of that ultimate authority and responsibility.

Analogies

• A King's Advisors: Imagine a king who has appointed his most trusted advisors to help govern the entire kingdom. If these advisors were to spend their time arguing over trivial matters within their own household, like who gets the largest piece of bread, it would be absurd. Their true responsibility lies in advising the king on matters of national importance. Similarly, believers are called to a far greater purpose than earthly disputes.
• Graduates and Elementary School: It would be illogical for university graduates to return to elementary school to argue over who gets to use the sandbox. Their education and future roles are on a much higher level. The verse suggests a similar disparity between the Corinthians' current squabbles and their future spiritual standing.

Relation to Other Verses

• 1 Corinthians 6:1-2: This verse directly follows Paul's lament about believers suing one another, providing the rationale for why such actions are inappropriate.
• Matthew 19:28: Jesus states, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." This passage hints at a future judicial role for believers.
• Revelation 20:4: This verse describes those who "had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or on their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." This speaks to a reign and implied authority that aligns with the concept of judgment.
• Philippians 3:20: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." This verse reinforces the idea that believers have a heavenly perspective and destiny that should influence their present actions.