Monday, August 27, 2007

1 Corinthians 6:1-11

In 1Cor6, we're told not only that we need to be wise enough to be capable of judgement, but that we should indeed judge to settle our disputes.

In 1Cor4, we're told not to judge anything til the appointed time.

  • What does Paul mean when he says that he may not be innocent, but that he has a clear conscience?
  • Does 1Cor6 mean that, sheesh, if you have to have a judgement, do it yourselves as a last measure as in the way he says, if you can't avoid sexual immorality, get a wife?
  • Is 1Cor6 speaking about the affairs of man vs 1Cor4's judging of the heart?

1 comment:

Ed Brannin said...

I think your third question is on the mark -- there's judging an act as (un)lawful, and then there's judging (or acting as the judge over -- condemning) another soul, the state of which you cannot know.

And by "another soul", I mean "any soul" -- even when we stay far from sins we watch for, we may commit other sins which are hidden from our sight for a time. It is not us, but the Lord who sees the depths of our hearts, who knows the extent of our sins.

That, I think, is what Paul meant when he said "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me."