1 Corinthians 6:5

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brothers?

1 Corinthians 6:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 6:5

I speak to your shame
Not that they did set such persons to judge, but that they did not; and instead of so doing went to law with their brethren before the unjust:

is it so that there is not a wise man among you?
this also the apostle speaks to their shame, who had so much gloried in their wisdom, and boasted of their parts and abilities to the contempt of others, and even of the apostle himself; and yet acted as if there was not a wise man among them capable of judging and determining trivial matters, but they must carry them before unconverted persons:

no not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
for though the above mentioned benches consisted of three persons, yet the contending parties might choose one man to be an arbitrator and judge between them. The rule with the Jews was this ^F6;

``pecuniary judgments are by three, but if he is authorised or approved by the majority, (ydyxy wlypa Nd) , "he may judge alone". Says R. Nachman, as I judge pecuniary judgments alone; and so says R. Chaijah, as I judge pecuniary punishments alone.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 T. Bab. Sanhed. fol. 5. 1. Maimon. Hilch. Sanhed. c. 5. sect. 8.

1 Corinthians 6:5 In-Context

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more the things that pertain to this life?

4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set as judges the most humble who are in the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}.

5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brothers?

6 But brother goes to judgment against brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7 Now therefore there is certainly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather suffer the wrong? why do ye not rather be defrauded?