13 Meats G1033 for the belly, G2836 and G2532 the belly G2836 for meats: G1033 but G1161 God G2316 shall destroy G2673 both G2532 it G5026 and G2532 them. G5023 Now G1161 the body G4983 is not G3756 for fornication, G4202 but G235 for the Lord; G2962 and G2532 the Lord G2962 for the body. G4983
14 And G1161 God G2316 hath G1453 both G2532 raised up G1453 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 will G1825 also G2532 raise up G1825 us G2248 by G1223 his own G846 power. G1411
15 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 your G5216 bodies G4983 are G2076 the members G3196 of Christ? G5547 shall I G142 then G3767 take G142 the members G3196 of Christ, G5547 and make G4160 them the members G3196 of an harlot? G4204 God forbid. G3361 G1096
16 What? G2228 know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 he which is joined G2853 to an harlot G4204 is G2076 one G1520 body? G4983 for G1063 two, G1417 saith he, G5346 shall be G2071 one G1519 G3391 flesh. G4561
17 But G1161 he that is joined G2853 unto the Lord G2962 is G2076 one G1520 spirit. G4151
18 Flee G5343 fornication. G4202 Every G3956 sin G265 that G3739 G1437 a man G444 doeth G4160 is G2076 without G1622 the body; G4983 but G1161 he that committeth fornication G4203 sinneth G264 against G1519 his own G2398 body. G4983
19 What? G2228 know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 your G5216 body G4983 is G2076 the temple G3485 of the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 which is in G1722 you, G5213 which G3739 ye have G2192 of G575 God, G2316 and G2532 ye are G2075 not G3756 your own? G1438
20 For G1063 ye are bought G59 with a price: G5092 therefore G1211 glorify G1392 God G2316 in G1722 your G5216 body, G4983 and G2532 in G1722 your G5216 spirit, G4151 which G3748 are G2076 God's. G2316
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 6
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 6
In this chapter the apostle,
1Cr 6:1-8
Here the apostle reproves them for going to law with one another before heathen judges for little matters; and therein blames all vexatious law-suits. In the previous chapter he had directed them to punish heinous sins among themselves by church-censures. Here he directs them to determine controversies with one another by church-counsel and advice, concerning which observe,
1Cr 6:9-11
Here he takes occasion to warn them against many heinous evils, to which they had been formerly addicted.
1Cr 6:12-20
The twelfth verse and former part of the thirteenth seem to relate to that early dispute among Christians about the distinction of meats, and yet to be prefatory to the caution that follows against fornication. The connection seems plain enough if we attend to the famous determination of the apostles, Acts 15, where the prohibition of certain foods was joined with that of fornication. Now some among the Corinthians seem to have imagined that they were as much at liberty in the point of fornication as of meats, especially because it was not a sin condemned by the laws of their country. They were ready to say, even in the case of fornication, All things are lawful for me. This pernicious conceit Paul here sets himself to oppose: he tells them that many things lawful in themselves were not expedient at certain times, and under particular circumstances; and Christians should not barely consider what is in itself lawful to be done, but what is fit for them to do, considering their profession, character, relations, and hopes: they should be very careful that by carrying this maxim too far they be not brought into bondage, either to a crafty deceiver or a carnal inclination. All things are lawful for me, says he, but I will not be brought under the power of any, v. 12. Even in lawful things, he would not be subject to the impositions of a usurped authority: so far was he from apprehending that in the things of God it was lawful for any power on earth to impose its own sentiments. Note, There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely he would never carry this liberty so far as to put himself into the power of any bodily appetite. Though all meats were supposed lawful, he would not become a glutton nor a drunkard. And much less would he abuse the maxim of lawful liberty to countenance the sin of fornication, which, though it might be allowed by the Corinthian laws, was a trespass upon the law of nature, and utterly unbecoming a Christian. He would not abuse this maxim about eating and drinking to encourage any intemperance, nor indulge a carnal appetite: "Though meats are for the belly and the belly for meats (v. 13), though the belly was made to receive food, and food was originally ordained to fill the belly, yet if it be not convenient for me, and much more if it be inconvenient, and likely to enslave me, if I am in danger of being subjected to my belly and appetite, I will abstain. But God shall destroy both it and them, at least as to their mutual relation. There is a time coming when the human body will need no further recruits of food.' Some of the ancients suppose that this is to be understood of abolishing the belly as well as the food; and that though the same body will be raised at the great day, yet not with all the same members, some being utterly unnecessary in a future state, as the belly for instance, when the man is never to hunger, nor thirst, nor eat, nor drink more. But, whether this be true or no, there is a time coming when the need and use of food shall be abolished. Note, The expectation we have of being without bodily appetites in a future life is a very good argument against being under their power in the present life. This seems to me the sense of the apostle's argument; and that this passage is plainly to be connected with his caution against fornication, though some make it a part of the former argument against litigious law-suits, especially before heathen magistrates and the enemies of true religion. These suppose that the apostle argues that though it may be lawful to claim our rights yet it is not always expedient, and it is utterly unfit for Christians to put themselves into the power of infidel judges, lawyers, and solicitors, on these accounts. But this connection seems not so natural. The transition to his arguments against fornication, as I have laid it, seems very natural: But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, v. 13. Meats and the belly are for one another; not so fornication and the body.