1 Corinthians 6:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But since this testified to the purity of their life, and not to skill in hearing cases, see how he turns his discourse to this subject also and says: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (1 Cor 6:2). If you are someday to judge the pagans, how do you allow them to judge you now? The saints will judge, not by sitting in session and demanding an account, but by condemning. The Apostle expresses this in the words: “And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” He did not say “from you. ” but “by you.” So also the Lord said: “The queen of the South will rise up and condemn this generation,” and: “The men of Nineveh will rise up and condemn this generation” (Mt 12:41-42). They see the same sun as we do and share in the same things.

Since the faithful, as unlearned people, seemed incapable of examining lawsuits, he gives them weight and dignity. First, he called them saints. Then he said that they will judge the world. This, however, must not be imagined as though they will take the seats of judges and pronounce sentences. The Lord will judge. No, they will only condemn, κατακρινοΰσιν. Indeed, if they, being like all the rest, proved to be believers, while the others did not believe, is this not condemnation for the unbelievers? See, he did not say, “the world will receive judgment from you,” but “will be judged by you.” For you, who believed, were an example for the world. The saying, “Are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” has this meaning. It seems the Corinthians were ashamed to be judged by those inside. Therefore he says: on the contrary, you are ashamed when you are judged by those outside. For those courts are base, and not like the courts within.

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? That is, that through them this world will be judged. And if the whole world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge matters of little importance?

For by the pattern of their faith the unbelief of the world will be condemned.

"Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world?" He said "shall judge" in place of "shall condemn." The words that follow make this clear. "And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy of the smallest tribunals?" So "the men of Nineveh" and "the Queen of the South" will condemn that generation (Mt 12:41-42). So "the twelve Apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel" (Mt 19:28), that is, they will condemn them. They will condemn them because they themselves came from them, believed in the Lord, endured countless kinds of deaths, and did not deny faith in Him. So also those from among the Gentiles who believed will condemn those who did not believe the saving preaching.

Thus the twelve Apostles will judge the twelve tribes as Jews judging Jews, because they believed the prophets themselves. If some did not believe the prophets, for that reason they rejected Christ. Other saints, that is, the Gentiles, will judge those who did not turn away from idols and believe in the true God.

"The saints shall judge the world." What Jesus Christ promised the Apostles (Mt 19:28), the Apostle Paul here says of all Christians. All Christians are one with Christ, the one Judge of the whole world. Saint John Chrysostom and blessed Theodoret understand the word "judge" in the sense of "condemn." Thus the Ninevites will condemn the race of Israel, which did not believe in Christ (Mt 12:41).

“How dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the impious, and not before the saints?” The Apostle Paul presents it as possible, though undesirable and even humiliating (v. 7), for Christians to have lawsuits among themselves (vv. 7 and 8). It could also become unavoidable for them to turn to judgment in these lawsuits. He does not deny the necessity of judgment. He only desires that Christians be judged by Christians, and that for examining matters arising among them they choose judges from among themselves. These should be prudent persons, able to judge between brethren, and possessing standing in the Church (vv. 4 and 5). By contrast, he strictly censures Christians when, though they are to judge the world, they turn for judgment in insignificant matters (v.

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? Are you then unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” Concerning the manner of the saints’ judgment over the world, Chrysostom says this: “The saints will judge, not by sitting down and demanding an account, but by condemning. The Apostle expresses this in the words: ‘If the world receives judgment by you.’ He did not say ‘from you,’ but ‘by you,’ ἐν ὐμίν, in you, in your holiness. Thus the Lord also said: ‘The queen of the South will rise up and condemn this generation,’ and ‘The men of Nineveh will rise up and condemn this generation’ (Mt 12:41-42).” Blessed Theodoret adds: “So the twelve Apostles will judge the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:28).

Having established the internal, ecclesiastical judgment, the holy Apostle Paul rebukes Christians for lawsuits before unbelievers. He expresses the desire that, by mutual yielding, Christians should prevent every lawsuit, since lawsuits in general do not correspond to the Christian duty of enduring wrongs and oppression. The Apostle first proves the impropriety of Christians being judged by pagans from the profound moral distinction between them and the pagans. Christians are holy, or at least sanctified, and in baptism they are bound to keep every righteousness and do every good. Pagans are unrighteous, and therefore are always ready for a biased and unjust judgment. Consequently, it is unworthy for Christians to go for judgment into pagan courts.

He proves why it is inappropriate for Christians to go to law before Gentiles. He says that Christians, the saints, will judge the world. By “the world” he means unbelievers, Gentiles, just as below he speaks of angels, likewise unbelieving ones.

If they will judge Gentiles, then clearly the Gentiles are lower than they, and Gentile courts are not suited to them. It is unworthy of you, he says, to go to these courts.

The point is proved. The force of the proof lies in the known fact that the saints, Christians, are to judge the world. When the Apostle asks, “Do you not know?” the very question implies that this was known to the Christians of that time.