Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 6:5
I say this to your shame. Is there really no one among you wise enough to arbitrate between his brothers?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church while confronting their practice of taking internal disputes to secular courts. He highlights their failure to appoint capable judges from within their own community.
The words — The Greek phrase ἐντροπὴν ὑμῖν (entropēn hymîn) literally means "to your shame," and οὐκ ἔνι ἐν (ouk eni en) translates as "there is not among." These terms directly state the community's disgrace and the absence of qualified arbitrators.
The thread — Paul uses the exact phrase "I say this to your shame" in 1 Corinthians 15:34 and contrasts it with his warning in 1 Corinthians 4:14. The appeal for internal wisdom corresponds to James 3:13, which ties discernment to humble action.
Why it lands — The text requires believers to settle personal conflicts within the church rather than before unbelievers. It calls the community to identify and submit to the judgment of its own wise members.
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
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 4:14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
- James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
- 1 Corinthians 11:14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
- James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (a gathering of about a hundred and twenty) and said,