The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:7 Explained

1 Corinthians 6:7

KJV: Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

YLT: Already, indeed, then, there is altogether a fault among you, that ye have judgments with one another; wherefore do ye not rather suffer injustice? wherefore be ye not rather defrauded?

Darby: Already indeed then it is altogether a fault in you that ye have suits between yourselves. Why do ye not rather suffer wrong? why are ye not rather defrauded?

ASV: Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  therefore  there is  utterly  a fault  among  you,  because  ye go  to law  one with  another.  Why  do ye  not  rather  take wrong?  why  do ye  not  rather  [suffer yourselves to] be defrauded? 

What does 1 Corinthians 6:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

By hauling one another into court the Corinthians were intent on winning damages for themselves. Evidently a business or property dispute was the root of this case (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:10). Paul reminded them that they had already lost before the judge gave his verdict. The shame of people who professed to love one another and put the welfare of others before their own suing each other was a defeat in itself. This defeat was far more serious than any damages they may have had to pay. It would be better to suffer the wrong or the cheating than to fight back in such an unchristian way ( Matthew 5:39-40; 1 Peter 2:19-24).
"It is possible that this use of meth heauton [1] for met allelon [2] is deliberate, in order to show that in bringing a suit against a fellow-Christian they were bringing a suit against themselves, so close was the relationship." [3]
Christians should be willing to give to one another rather than trying to get from one another. In other words, there should be no going to court with one another at all. Nevertheless if the Corinthians insisted on going to court, it should be a court of believers in the church, not unbelievers outside the church.

Context Summary

1Corinthians 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: 1Corinthians 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 6:7

Nay, already it is altogether a defect among you [ηδη μεν ουν ολως ηττημα υμιν εστιν]
“Indeed therefore there is to you already (to begin with, ηδη — ēdē before any question of courts) wholly defeat.” ηττημα — Hēttēma (from ητταομαι — hēttaomai) is only here, Romans 11:12; Isaiah 31:8 and ecclesiastical writers. See ητταομαι — hēttaomai (from ηττων — hēttōn less) in 2 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Peter 2:19. Νικη — Nikē was victory and ηττα — hētta defeat with the Greeks. It is defeat for Christians to have lawsuits (κριματα — krimata usually decrees or judgments) with one another. This was proof of the failure of love and forgiveness (Colossians 3:13). [source]
Take wrong [αδικειστε]
Present middle indicative, of old verb αδικεω — adikeō (from αδικος — adikos not right). Better undergo wrong yourself than suffer defeat in the matter of love and forgiveness of a brother. Be defrauded (αποστερειστε — apostereisthe). Permissive middle again like αδικειστε — adikeisthe Allow yourselves to be robbed (old verb to deprive, to rob) rather than have a lawsuit. [source]
defeat []
in the matter of love and forgiveness of a brother. Be defrauded (αποστερειστε — apostereisthe). Permissive middle again like αδικειστε — adikeisthe Allow yourselves to be robbed (old verb to deprive, to rob) rather than have a lawsuit. [source]
Be defrauded [αποστερειστε]
Permissive middle again like αδικειστε — adikeisthe Allow yourselves to be robbed (old verb to deprive, to rob) rather than have a lawsuit. [source]
Now therefore [ἤδη μὲν οὖν]
Μὲν οὖν nayas in 1 Corinthians 6:4, at once looks back to the preceding thought, and continues it, bringing under special consideration the fact that brother goes to law with brother. Ἤδη alreadyor at once is a temporal adverb, but with a logical force and enhancing the nay. The connection of thought is: Is there not one wise man among you who is competent to act as an arbitrator between brethren, so that christian brethren must needs take their differences into the civil courts and before heathen judges? Nay; such a proceeding at once implies the existence of a litigious spirit generally, which is unchristian, and detrimental to you. [source]
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]
Ye go to law [κρίματα ἔχετε]
Rev., more correctly, ye have lawsuits. Not the same phrase as in 1 Corinthians 6:6. Κρίμα in the New Testament almost universally means judgment or decree, as Romans 5:16. See on 2 Peter 2:3. In classical Greek it has also the meaning of the matter of judgment, the question in litigation. So Aeschylus: “The matter ( κρίμα ) is not easy to judge. Choose me not as judge” (“Suppliants,” 391). Here the meaning is legal proceedings, lawsuits. So in Septuagint, Job 31:13; Exodus 23:6. [source]
Suffer yourselves to be defrauded [ἀποστερεῖσθε]
Rev., more literally, “why not rather be defrauded? ” In classical Greek the word means, 1. to rob or despoil. 2. to detach or withdraw one's self from a person or thing. Ἁποστερεῖν ἑαυτόν was a regular phrase for separation from civic life. So Oedipus says: “I, noblest of the sons of Thebes, have cut myself off ( ἀπεστέρης ἐμαυτόν . Sophocles, “Oedipus Tyrannus,” 1381). 3. To withhold or avert. So Io to Prometheus: “Do not, after proffering me a benefit, withhold it” (“Prometheus,” 796). The maidens say: “May King Zeus avert the hateful marriage” (Aeschylus, “Suppliants,” 1063). In the New Testament the word occurs five times. In Mark 10:19, defraud not is apparently Mark's rendering of the tenth commandment. According to the inner meaning of the commandment as conceived by Jesus, the coveting of another's goods is, in heart, a depriving him of them. In 1 Corinthians 7:5it is used of connubial relations. In 1 Timothy 6:5, of those who are deprived or destitute of the truth. Dr. Morison, on Mark 10:19, justly observes that defraud is too narrow a rendering. The word means rather “to deprive of what is one's due, whether by 'hook,' 'crook,' or force, or in any other way.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 6:7

Romans 5:16 The judgment [κρῖμα]
Judicial sentence. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:7; 1 Corinthians 11:29. See on 2 Peter 2:3. [source]
Romans 11:11 By their fall [τωι αυτων παραπτωματι]
Instrumental case. For the word, a falling aside or a false step from παραπιπτω — parapiptō see note on Romans 5:15-20. Is come. No verb in the Greek, but γινεται — ginetai or γεγονεν — gegonen is understood. For to provoke them to jealousy Purpose expressed by εις — eis and the articular infinitive, first aorist active, of παραζηλοω — parazēloō for which verb see note on 1 Corinthians 10:22. As an historical fact Paul turned to the Gentiles when the Jews rejected his message (Acts 13:45.; Acts 28:28, etc.). The riches of the world (πλουτος κοσμου — ploutos kosmou). See note on Romans 10:12. Their loss So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
Romans 11:11 For to provoke them to jealousy [εις το παραζηλωσαι]
Purpose expressed by εις — eis and the articular infinitive, first aorist active, of παραζηλοω — parazēloō for which verb see note on 1 Corinthians 10:22. As an historical fact Paul turned to the Gentiles when the Jews rejected his message (Acts 13:45.; Acts 28:28, etc.). The riches of the world (πλουτος κοσμου — ploutos kosmou). See note on Romans 10:12. Their loss So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
Romans 11:11 Their loss [το ηττημα αυτων]
So perhaps in 1 Corinthians 6:7, but in Isaiah 31:8 defeat is the idea. Perhaps so here. Fulness (πληρωμα — plērōma). Perhaps “completion,” though the word from πληροω — plēroō to fill, has a variety of senses, that with which anything is filled (1 Corinthians 10:26, 1 Corinthians 10:28), that which is filled (Ephesians 1:23). How much more? Argument a fortiori as in Romans 11:24. Romans 11:25 illustrates the point. [source]
1 Corinthians 5:1 Actually [ολως]
Literally, wholly, altogether, like Latin omnino and Greek παντως — pantōs (1 Corinthians 9:22). So papyri have it for “really” and also for “generally” or “everywhere” as is possible here. See also 1 Corinthians 6:7. With a negative it has the sense of “not at all” as in 1 Corinthians 15:29; Matthew 5:34 the only N.T. examples, though a common word. [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 3:6 Fall into condemnation [εἰς κρίμα ἐμπέσῃ]
Κρίμα in N.T. usually means judgment. The word for condemnation is κατάκριμα. See especially Romans 5:16, where the two are sharply distinguished. Comp. Matthew 7:2; Acts 24:25; Romans 2:2; Romans 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:7. However, κρίμα occasionally shades off into the meaning condemnation, as Romans 3:8; James 3:1. See on go to law, 1 Corinthians 6:7, and see on 1 Corinthians 11:29. Κρίμα is a Pauline word; but the phrase ἐμπιπτεῖν εἰς κρίμα tofall into judgment is found only here. [source]
Revelation 18:20 God hath judged your judgment [εκρινεν ο τεος το κριμα]
First aorist (prophetic) active of κρινω — krinō and cognate accusative κριμα — krima here a case for trial (Exodus 18:22; 1 Corinthians 6:7), not a sentence as in Revelation 17:1. God has approved the case of heaven. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 6:7 mean?

Already indeed therefore altogether a defeat for you it is that lawsuits you have among one another Because of why not rather suffer wrong be defrauded
ἤδη μὲν οὖν ὅλως ἥττημα ὑμῖν ἐστιν ὅτι κρίματα ἔχετε μεθ’ ἑαυτῶν διὰ τί οὐχὶ μᾶλλον ἀδικεῖσθε ἀποστερεῖσθε

ἤδη  Already 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἤδη  
Sense: now, already.
μὲν  indeed 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: μέν  
Sense: truly, certainly, surely, indeed.
ὅλως  altogether 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὅλως  
Sense: wholly, altogether.
ἥττημα  a  defeat 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἥττημα  
Sense: a diminution, decrease: i.
ὑμῖν  for  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἐστιν  it  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
κρίματα  lawsuits 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κρίμα  
Sense: a decree, judgments.
ἔχετε  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ἑαυτῶν  one  another 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
διὰ  Because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τί  why 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
μᾶλλον  rather 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μᾶλλον  
Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather.
ἀδικεῖσθε  suffer  wrong 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀδικέω  
Sense: absolutely.
ἀποστερεῖσθε  be  defrauded 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀποστερέω 
Sense: to defraud, rob, despoil.