1 Corinthians 6:4 is Paul’s sharp question to the Corinthian church about settling disputes between believers. He asks why they would bring minor matters of daily life before people who have no standing in the church, rather than letting fellow Christians with wisdom decide them. The words come from the apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the church he had founded in Corinth, and he is speaking to the believers there.
If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?
1 Corinthians 6:4 (WEB)
What 1 Corinthians 6:4 Means
The verse begins with “If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life.” Paul is not saying that every legal matter is forbidden to Christians. He is starting from a situation that was already happening in Corinth, where ordinary disputes over property, debts, or business were being carried into the public courts. The phrase “things pertaining to this life” points to everyday affairs, the kind of practical matters that do not carry eternal weight.
The second half, “do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?”, is the heart of the rebuke. The people sitting in the courts were often outsiders to the church, and Paul calls them people “of no account” in the assembly, meaning they had no place in the community’s life of faith. He is pointing out the oddness of asking people with no part in the church to settle matters between brothers and sisters in Christ.
The verse does not promise that every conflict will be resolved peacefully, and it does not forbid all contact with the civil courts in every circumstance. What it does is reveal a priority: the church should be a place where its own members are able to judge and settle disputes with wisdom and humility, so that believers do not expose their divisions to the watching world.
The Context of 1 Corinthians 6:4
First Corinthians was written by Paul to a church in the Greek city of Corinth, a busy port known for commerce and moral laxity. The believers there were a mix of people from different backgrounds, and they had brought many of their old habits and rivalries into the fellowship. Paul addresses a range of problems in the letter, including factions, sexual immorality, and disorder in worship. Chapter 6 belongs to a section where he deals with how Christians conduct themselves in the everyday public sphere.
The verses just before this one (6:1 to 3) lay the groundwork. Paul asks whether believers would take a grievance against a neighbor before unrighteous judges instead of the saints, and he reminds them that the saints will one day judge the world and even angels. If they will have that role in the age to come, he argues, they are surely able to settle small matters now. Verse 5 follows with a rebuke meant to shame them, asking whether there is not one wise person in the church who could mediate. Read in this setting, verse 4 is the middle step of an argument that moves from exalted calling to plain practical wisdom.
Key Phrases in 1 Corinthians 6:4
Matthew 18:15
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
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Jesus gives a practical pattern for addressing a brother or sister who has wronged you, beginning with a private conversation. This complements Paul’s concern by showing that reconciliation among believers is meant to start within the community, rather than with outside legal action.
Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men.
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Paul encourages believers to pursue peace with everyone as far as it depends on them. This verse widens the picture from disputes inside the church to all relationships, reminding readers that the goal of Christian conduct is to live peaceably wherever possible.
A Short Prayer From 1 Corinthians 6:4
Lord, you have shown us that the church is meant to be a family where brothers and sisters can trust one another. When disagreements rise up between us, help us to slow down and seek wisdom before we reach for the courts or for harsh words. Give us humility to listen, patience to forgive, and the courage to go to someone who can help us find a fair path forward. Let our conflicts be a place where your peace is seen. Amen.
