1 Corinthians 6:5 is Paul’s rebuke to the church in Corinth for taking their disagreements to secular courts, when they should have been able to resolve them among themselves. He is pointing out that the community already has people wise enough to settle matters between believers, and he says this to shame them into acting differently. Paul wrote this letter to the church he founded in Corinth, a bustling port city where Christians came from many backgrounds and often struggled to get along.
I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?
1 Corinthians 6:5 (WEB)
What 1 Corinthians 6:5 Means
The phrase “I say this to move you to shame” tells you Paul’s intent. He is not making a neutral observation. He wants his readers to feel embarrassed about how they are behaving, because their conduct does not reflect who they are in Christ. The shame is meant to lead to repentance and change, not to crush them.
The question that follows, “Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?”, is a rhetorical one. Paul assumes the answer is yes. The church has members capable of judging fairly, so there is no good reason to hand disputes to outsiders. The word “brothers” points to fellow believers, the family of faith.
This verse does not say that all legal action is forbidden, nor does it offer a rule for every dispute in every society. It addresses a specific problem: believers airing grievances against one another in front of unbelievers, which damaged their witness and their unity.
The Context of 1 Corinthians 6:5
First Corinthians is one of Paul’s longer letters, written to address problems that had reached him about the Corinthian congregation. The surrounding verses, 2 through 8, show that Paul is dealing with lawsuits between Christians. He reminds them that the saints will one day judge the world and even angels, so surely they can handle small matters in their own community now.
Paul goes on in verse 7 to say that having such lawsuits is already a defeat for the church, and he asks why they would not rather accept wrong or loss. In verse 8 he points out that they themselves are doing wrong and defrauding their brothers. Reading the verse alongside these lines makes clear that Paul’s concern is not simply procedure but the way these disputes expose a lack of love and humility within the church.
Key Phrases in 1 Corinthians 6:5
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.
(WEB)
Jesus gives a practical pattern for resolving offenses between believers: go privately to your brother first, and seek reconciliation before anything else. This pairs naturally with Paul’s concern that Christians should settle matters among themselves rather than publicly.
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 urges believers to pursue peace with everyone as far as it depends on them. This wider principle shows that the goal behind resolving disputes within the church is not merely winning an argument but living peaceably in community.
A Short Prayer From 1 Corinthians 6:5
Lord, you have given your people a family of faith, and I confess that I do not always treat my brothers and sisters with the patience and honesty they deserve. When disagreements come, help me to seek your wisdom first and to rely on the mature believers you have placed around me. Soften my heart where pride has taken hold, and help me pursue peace with humility and love. Make the church a place where people can trust one another to be fair and kind. Amen.
