The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:8 Explained

1 Corinthians 6:8

KJV: Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

YLT: but ye -- ye do injustice, and ye defraud, and these -- brethren!

Darby: But ye do wrong, and defraud, and this your brethren.

ASV: Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nay,  ye  do wrong,  and  defraud,  and  that  [your] brethren. 

What does 1 Corinthians 6:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

An even more shocking condition was that some of the Christians in Corinth were more than the victims of wrong and fraud. They were the perpetrators of these things (cf. Matthew 5:39-41).

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 - Settling Differences Between Brethren
The Apostle was clearly of the opinion that it was wiser for a Christian to bear injustice and wrong than to go to law before a heathen tribunal. It would have been a happy solution of myriads of disputes if his advice had been followed. Where a course of lawless crime has to be arrested in the interests of the weak and defenseless, it is necessary to call in the law and police to vindicate and protect; but when our private, personal and individual interests alone are concerned, we should be wise to submit our case to arbitration or suffer patiently.
Who are the heirs of the kingdom of heaven, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? Do not inquire into their past history. There are pages in their lives that had better be obliterated and forgotten; or, if remembered, they should be the foil to set forth the matchless grace and love of God. Yes, that grace shall be our theme forever, when we recall the depths out of which it lifted us, and the heights to which it raised us. Let us note that the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are named together. It is by the Holy Spirit that we become possessed of the nature of our Lord, which takes the place of our old evil nature and empowers us to repeat His life. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 6

1  The Corinthians must take their brothers to court;
6  especially under infidels
9  The wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God
15  Our bodies are the members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit:
19  they must not therefore be defiled

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 6:8

Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong and defraud [αλλα υμεις αδικειτε και αποστερειτε]
“But (adversative αλλα — alla on the contrary) you (emphatic) do the wronging and the robbing” (active voices) “and that your brethren” Same idiom as at close of 1 Corinthians 6:6. The very climax of wrong-doings, to stoop to do this with one‘s brethren in Christ. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 6:8

Romans 13:11 And this [και τουτο]
Either nominative absolute or accusative of general reference, a common idiom for “and that too” (1 Corinthians 6:6, 1 Corinthians 6:8, etc.). [source]
1 Corinthians 6:7 Fault among you [ἥττημα ἐν ὑμῖν]
Only here and Romans 11:12. See note. Ἥττημα faultis from ἥττων lessLit., diminution, decrease. Hence used in the sense of defeat, Isaiah 31:8: “Young men shall be discomfited lit., shall be for diminution.” Similarly the kindred verb ἡττάομαι , in 2 Corinthians 12:13, made inferior; and in 2 Peter 2:19, 2 Peter 2:20, overcome. See note there. Compare 1Corinthians href="/desk/?q=1co+6:8&sr=1">1 Corinthians 6:8) is a source of damage, resulting in forfeiture of the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9), and in loss of spiritual power. [source]
1 Timothy 6:5 Destitute of the truth [ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας]
Rev. bereft of the truth. In N.T. commonly of defrauding, Mark 10:19; 1 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:8; 1 Corinthians 7:5. The implication is that they once possessed the truth. They put it away from themselves (1 Timothy 1:19; Titus 1:14). Here it is represented as taken away from them. Comp. Romans 1:8. [source]
1 Timothy 6:5 Corrupted in mind [διεπταρμενων τον νουν]
Perfect passive participle of διαπτειρω — diaphtheirō to corrupt, genitive case agreeing with αντρωπων — anthrōpōn (of men) and retaining the accusative τον νουν — ton noun Bereft of the truth (απεστερημενων της αλητειας — apesterēmenōn tēs alētheias). Perfect passive participle of αποστερεω — apostereō old verb (1 Corinthians 6:8) with the ablative case after it (αλητειας — alētheias). A way of gain Late word from ποριζω — porizō to provide, to gain. Only here in N.T. “Rich Christians.” Predicate accusative with ειναι — einai (indirect assertion) in apposition with ευσεβειαν — eusebeian the accusative of general reference. [source]
1 Timothy 6:5 Bereft of the truth [απεστερημενων της αλητειας]
Perfect passive participle of αποστερεω — apostereō old verb (1 Corinthians 6:8) with the ablative case after it (αλητειας — alētheias). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 6:8 mean?

But you do wrong and defraud these things to brothers
ἀλλὰ ὑμεῖς ἀδικεῖτε καὶ ἀποστερεῖτε τοῦτο ἀδελφούς

ἀδικεῖτε  do  wrong 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀδικέω  
Sense: absolutely.
ἀποστερεῖτε  defraud 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀποστερέω 
Sense: to defraud, rob, despoil.
τοῦτο  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἀδελφούς  to  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.