Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, addressing believers who had previously practiced the sins catalogued in verse 10. The moment is corrective: he is countering their complacency by reminding them of what they were before conversion.
The words — ἀπελοὺσασθε ("you were washed") and ἡγιασθητε ("you were sanctified") are both aorist passive, marking completed acts done to the recipients rather than ongoing processes they must sustain.
The thread — The "once you were / now you are" structure recurs in Romans 6:17 (once slaves to sin, now obeyed the form of teaching) and 1 Corinthians 1:30 (in Christ Jesus, who became our righteousness, holiness, redemption). Colossians 3:5 issues the corresponding imperative: put to death the components of the earthly nature.
Why it lands — The verse forecloses the argument that past sin is a permanent identity or a license for present behavior. It asks the reader to stop treating their former life as a baseline and to act from the position of one who has already been washed, sanctified, and justified.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
- Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
- Romans 8:30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
- 1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
- Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’