1 Corinthians 6:2

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, confronting members who are taking legal disputes against fellow believers before pagan magistrates (v. 1) and arguing that their own eschatological role makes this both unnecessary and a mark of incompetence.

The words — ἅγιοι (hagioi), "saints," is the subject doing the judging; it is Paul's standard term for the church members, not a remote class of perfected beings, and it is paired with κὸςμον (kosmon), the created order, to frame the scope of their future authority.

The thread — The same motif of the saints exercising judgment appears in Matthew 19:28 (the twelve judging the twelve tribes in the renewal), Daniel 7:22 (judgment pronounced in favor of the saints of the Most High), and Revelation 20:4 (souls given authority to judge from thrones).

Why it lands — The logic is reductio ad absurdum: if your appointed role is to judge the world, then the trivial civil cases you are outsourcing to unrighteous judges are beneath your competence, and the act of outsourcing is itself a confession that you have not grasped who you are.

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

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Cross-references

Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Daniel 7:22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.
Revelation 20:4 Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Luke 22:30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Revelation 3:21 To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 2:26 And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’
Psalms 149:5 Let the saints exult in glory; let them shout for joy upon their beds.
1 Corinthians 6:4 So if you need to settle everyday matters, do you appoint as judges those of no standing in the church?
Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones