Those of No Account in the Church
Background
As we continue to explore the use of the word “church” in 1 Corinthians, we encounter an unusual phrase in chapter 6:4: “them … who are least esteemed in the church.”1 It features in a section dealing with the incongruity of a believer raising a lawsuit against another saint. (Chapter 6 has two main subjects: litigation and fornication). It appears that an aggrieved and defrauded believer had taken another assembly member to court, and the whole sad business had been paraded in public to the disgrace of Christian testimony in the city. Paul presents a strong argument against such action. Even in introducing the subject, he indicates that to take a brother to law is reckless and daring: “Dare any of you …?” (v1). He then advances reasons as to why it is so inappropriate.
Unjust Judges
It would be slanderous to suggest that every unsaved judge can be bought, but Paul draws the contrast between unrighteous people and “saints” (v1), and he is horrified to think that any believer would opt for an arbitrator who has never been justified over someone who has been set apart as a child of God. Generally, what a person is positionally is reflected in how they behave practically, thus “he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (1Jn 3:7), and, of course, the converse would be true. Could they necessarily expect a righteous judgment in a pagan courtroom?
Another description of the judges is in verse 6: “unbelievers.” They may have been exceptionally learned and extremely proficient in the legal profession, but they had not had the wisdom to see the validity and benefits of the gospel of Christ. How could you expect people like that to make a true assessment of any case?
Between these two descriptions of the unsaved judges, there lies another: those “who are of no account in the church” (v4 RV). Most translations consulted have verse 4 in the form of a question, asking, in amazement almost, Do you set those to judge who have no standing, or are of little account, in the church? Men at the pinnacle of the legal profession may have prestige in the community, but they carry no weight in the assembly, and yet these were the kind of men who were being asked to adjudicate on issues between brethren in assembly fellowship. That seems a more understandable way to read the verse rather than following the KJV as if it was a command to appoint those who are least esteemed in the assembly as adjudicators. It would be a bit humiliating for anyone to be told, “We want you to judge this issue because no one in the assembly thinks very much of you!” No, people who are of no account in the church are unsaved people generally, but in this context, unsaved judges.
Saints and Brothers
Another reason for avoiding the law courts is that believers themselves have the capacity to arrive at a sound judgment on any issue; in fact, “the saints shall judge the world” (v2). The administration of the coming millennial kingdom will be in the hands of believers of this Church age. In fact, angels too will come under our authority. Judgment in this context must be seen in an administrative sense and not in a punitive way. Paul’s argument is that if such weighty responsibilities are going to be handled by us in the future, why have we no confidence to put issues for judgment into the hands of our fellow-believers in the here and now? In light of our future capacity for discernment, running to the law courts is to our shame; it implies that “there is not a wise man among [us]” (v5).
In contrast to the big issues of the coming administration, present disputes are “the smallest matters.” In contrast to giving orders to mighty spirit creatures, these financial quarrels are just “things that pertain to this life” (vv2-3). Why should believers have difficulty in resolving these?
Another very challenging issue is that those who were disputing before the Corinthian judiciary were brothers – “brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers” (v6). Paul regards that as being “a fault,” that is, a defect, a loss (v7). He seems to be saying that in publicly airing disputes among unbelievers, there is loss in every way. There is loss of dignity, loss of credibility for the Christian cause, and loss of any sense of Christian unity. The fact that we are “brothers” should temper our interactions with each other in every realm, particularly in the presence of unconverted people.
Defrauded and Defrauding
It could be that the offender in a financial dispute refuses to appear before an assembly tribunal or refuses to submit to its findings and make reparation. Obviously, such a judgment does not carry the legal weight of the state’s law court. What is the next step? Paul appeals for grace on the part of the cheated party to be willing to “suffer [themselves] to be defrauded” (v7). The present writer has never been tested on this issue, and I suspect that it would take much help from God and considerable restraint to comply with the teaching of Scripture here, but as ever, the obedient soul will never be the loser.
What of the individual who has been defrauding? Paul turns to them in verse 8, and brands their dishonesty as “doing wrong,” and issues a solemn warning that such behavior is characteristic of “the unrighteous” who “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (v9). He seems to indicate that to persist in such conduct demonstrates that the offender has never really been saved at all. It is a very solemn conclusion to this section of the letter. Let all who are guilty of financial irregularities take note.
Postscript
It must be understood that the context that we have examined relates to a financial dispute between two believers in the assembly. It should never be used to sanction a “cover-up” of a criminal offence on the part of a professing believer. Undoubtedly, in the interests of righteousness and justice, such behavior should be reported to the relevant authorities even though it is bound to have a negative impact on the testimony. History has shown that the discovery of a “cover-up” has proved to be more damaging than the initial misdemeanor!
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV unless otherwise noted.
