Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 6:9
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church, correcting them for suing one another (v. 8) and then naming the categories of conduct that disqualify a person from the kingdom.
The words — ἄδικοι (adikoi) is "the unrighteous ones," a noun that names a class of people rather than a single act; οὐκ (ouk) before οἴδατε ("you know") carries the force of "surely," as if Paul finds their ignorance of this point astonishing.
The thread — Galatians 5:19 lists "sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery" among the acts of the flesh; 1 Timothy 1:9 pairs the "lawless and rebellious" with the "ungodly and sinful" as those for whom law exists.
Why it lands — The verse does not soften the list or add a conditional; it states that those who remain in these categories will not inherit the kingdom, and it addresses believers directly ("Do not be deceived").
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
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 1:9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,
- Galatians 5:19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
- Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
- Leviticus 20:13 If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they have both committed an abomination. They must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
- Leviticus 18:22 You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.
- Revelation 21:8 But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
- Revelation 22:15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- 1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
- Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;