1 Corinthians 6:4

4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?

1 Corinthians 6:4 in Other Translations

4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?

4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church?

4 As these disagreements and wrongs surface, why would you ever entrust them to the judgment of people you don't trust in any other way?

4 If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?

4 When you have cases dealing with this life, why do you allow people whom the church has a low opinion of to be your judges?

4 So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge?

4 So if you want to press charges in matters like that, appoint as judges members of the church who aren't very important!

1 Corinthians 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:4

If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life,
&c.] Not judgements relating to life and death, for these were not in the power of a Jewish sanhedrim now, and much less of a Christian community, but were wholly in the power of the Roman magistrates; but judgments relating to the common affairs of life, or what the Jews call (twnwmm ynyd) , "pecuniary judgments" ^F2, in distinction from (twvpn ynyd) , "judgments of souls", or capital ones. The Jews say {c},

``that forty years before the destruction of the temple, capital judgments were taken from Israel; and in the days of R. Simeon ben Jochai, pecuniary judgments were taken away from Israel.''

Now this Rabbi lived many years after the times of the apostles, so that as yet the Jews had a power of exercising such judgments; and no doubt the Christian's also, who as yet were very little, if at all, distinguished from the Jews by the Romans: and therefore since such judgments were within the compass of their authority, the apostle advises

to set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church;
meaning, not those of the lowest circumstances of life, and of the meanest abilities and capacities; for in the next verse he requires a wise man for such a business; but private persons, laymen, who were not in any office and authority in the church, in distinction from pastors, elders, and rulers, that were in office, power, and high esteem, whom he would not have troubled with cases of this nature; but should rather choose out from among the laity persons of the best judgment and capacity, to be umpires and arbitrators in such worldly matters, which do not so properly come under the notice and cognizance of spiritual guides. The phrase, "to judge", is not in the original text, where it is only (kayizete) , "set", or "put in the chair"; but is added in the Vulgate Latin version; and to which agree both the Syriac and Arabic versions; the former reading the words, "they that are despised in the church, set for you in judgment"; and the latter, "make them to sit judges". The Jews, as Dr. Lightfoot observes, besides their great sanhedrim of seventy one persons, and that other of twenty three in their cities of note, and their triumvirate in every synagogue, had also two sorts of benches, who judged of lesser matters; the one was called (Nyxmwm lv Nyd tyb) , "the bench of authorized persons", experienced men, that were approved of, and had their authority from the sanhedrim; and the other was called (twjwydh lv Nyd tyb) , "the bench of idiots" ^F4, or private persons, or (Nyxmwm Nnyav Nyd tyb) , "the bench of those who were not authorized" ^F5, or had not their authority, from the higher courts; but being judged proper persons, were chosen by the people to arbitrate matters in difference between them; and these are the men the apostle means, at least alludes to, before whom he would have the causes brought.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Misn Sanhedrin, c. 1. sect. 1.
F3 T. Hieros. Sanhedrin. fol. 24. 2.
F4 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 32. 1.
F5 Maimon. Hilch. Ishot, c. 17. sect. 13. T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 88. 2. Gloss. in. ib.

1 Corinthians 6:4 In-Context

2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?

3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?

5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?

6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!