1Co 6:12-20: Today's verses are 1Co 6:14-17

We continue our look at Paul's discussion of sexual immorality and our body in 1Co 6:12-20 with an in-depth look at 1Co 6:14-17  

The overview of the entire section can be found HERE.

The in-depth look at the verses 1Co 6:12-13 can be found HERE.

You can hover your pointer over (most) any verse reference to read the corresponding verse(s).  (Scriptural cross-references are THE most important resource!)

 1 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NASB)
¹⁴ Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
¹⁵ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
¹⁶ Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH."
¹⁷ But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Grammatical and other Considerations

• Paul reaffirms that God raised Jesus up from the dead and that God will also raise us up!
• We are part of Christ's body (the Church!?!)
• as such we should treat our body as a holy object.
• Sex is sex! And when we join with another (prostitute or consensual affair) we are joined to that person.  "The two will become one flesh." Gn 2:24 This is not an exception, it is the rule! 
• BUT!  we are also to remember that when we are joined to the Lord, we are one spirit with Him!  SO we need to treat our bodies as holy!

My Questions

• Does Paul indeed mean the Church when he says our bodies are a part of Christ's body?
• Where are the actual words about sex belonging in marriage?  (this is important to know!!)
• Why does Paul end this section with his comments about us being joined to the Lord in spirit?  Is he foreshadowing his thoughts in 1Co 6:19  ??  And why is this point important?

Verse Cross References

• 1Co 6:14 -- (power:  Mk 5:30 Lk 1:35 2Co 13:4 ) Ac 2:24 Jn 6:39-40  1Co 15:23 1Co 15:15-120 Ac 17:31 Ro 6:4-8 Ro 8:11 1Th 4:14 Jn 5:28-29 Jn 11:25-26 Eph 1:19-20 Php 3:21 
• Thoughts -- It seems Paul is taking the time to reaffirm God's power, and the resurrected Jesus as our Savior!  For without our acknowledgment of these facts then we will not be saved!  And we will not truly understand what Paul is about to tell us in the following verses, nor will it have as much importance for us!
• 1Co 6:15 -- Ro 12:5 1Co 12:27 Eph 5:30 1Co 11:3 Eph 1:22-23 Eph 4:16 Gal 3:21 Pro 6:23-35 Ex 20:14 2Ti 2:22 Mat 5:28 Mat 19:6 
• Thoughts -- Eph 1:22-23 answers my question about the term body used as a substitute for the word Church.  Paul means the Church!  All believers are a part of Christ's Church (body).  Ex 20:14 and Mat 5:28 and Mat 19:5-6  also clearly demonstrate that sex is mean for marriage!  Period!
• 1Co 6:16 -- Gen 2:24 Mat 19:5-6 Mk 10:7-9 Eph 5:31 
• Thoughts -- Simply (but forcibly and effectively) reiterates the commands behind:  Gen 2:24 Ex 20:14 Mat 5:28 and Mat 19:5-6 
• 1Co 6:17 -- Ps 51:12 Jn 17:21-23 Ro 8:9-11 Gal 2:20 1Co 12:13 Jn 3:6 Col 1:27 1Jn 5:20 1Jn 2:24 1Jn 3:24 1Jn 4:13-14 John 14:20 Col 2:10 Jn 15:4-5 1Jn 3:6 1Jn 2:6 (a very convicting verse!) Jn 17:21 
• Thoughts -- This is a crucial truth to understand!  One that I do understand but don't fully live by!  By accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, His Holy Spirit is in me!  Guiding me!  To treat my body as anything less than a sanctuary is a sin!!  This is an important topic and one I should explore further!  Almost overwhelming at the moment!

Important terms

Raised:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Psa 148:14 Isa 45:13 Isa 41:25 Mt 11:5 Mt 16:21 Mt 17:9 Mt 17:23 Mt 28:7 Jn 2:22 Jn 21:14 Ac 2:24 Ac 3:26 Ac 4:10 Ac 10:40 Ro 4:24-25 Ro 6:4 Ro 6:9 Ro 8:11 Ro 8:34 1Co 15:4 1Co 15:13-17 1Co 15:20 2Co 4:14-15 Col 2:12 1Th 1:10 1Pe 1:21 Mt 16:6 Mt 16:14 Lk 24:6 Jn 2:19 
• Thoughts -- Sometimes translated as resurrected.  Either way it is the foundation of everything.  Jesus died for our sins and was raised up for the dead on the third day, thus defeating sin and enabling us to be presented as clean before the Father.  And since He defeated sin we are now NO LONGER SLAVES to sin!  It does not rules us.  Therefore we are able, through the power and grace of Jesus Christ, to move past our fleshly desires and our past sinful behavior.  Sin has been beaten!  BUT WE MUST accept the gift of grace and pray for the gift every day.  We (I!) must pray for the strength to defeat temptation EVERY DAY!  This is so essential to everything Paul is saying.  For if sin has not been defeated how can we hope to stop sinning?  And as Paul states, if we will be raised up as well shouldn't we therefore treat our bodies as holy!??  Our bodies are for God!
• Definition -- literally:  to rise from a deep sleep or a posture of sleep.  Figuratively: to rise or be raised from death.

power:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Mt 6:13 Mt 7:22 Mt 11:21 Mt 13:54 Mt 22:29 Mt 24:30 Mt 25:15 Mk 5:30 Ro 1:4 Ro 1:16 Ro 9:17 Ro 15:13 1Co 1:18 1Co 2:5 1Co 4:20 2Co 4:7 2Co 12:9 2Co 13:4 1Th 1:5 Heb 1:3 1Pe 1:5 2Pe 1:16 Rev 5:12 Rev 11:17 Rev 19:1 
• Thoughts -- Paul uses this word a LOT.  It is important for us to remember God's power!  Only through His power can anything happen!
• Definition -- power.  Sometimes translated as miracle or ability.  All words derived from the basic stem (duna) have the meaning of being able, or capable.

prostitute:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Dt 23:17 Mt 21:31 Lk 15:30 Rev 17:1 Rev 17:5 Rev 19:2 
• Thoughts -- Paul is using the term prostitute here as they were readily available in Greece of that time (as they are today... .  As much as things change, they sadly remain the same!) but it is important to realize that Paul IS speaking about all sexual immorality and as discussed in other parts of this study, sex is meant for marriage!
• It is important to note that in Mt 21:31 that Jesus makes special mention that prostitutes will be forgiven!  (provided that they, like any of us, confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord)  Jesus IS inclusive in His forgiveness.  As we all should be.  Especially considering we are ALL sinners!

joined:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Mt 19:5 
• Thoughts -- This along with the phrase "make it part of a prostitute" from 1Co 6:15 are graphic but Paul needs to be graphic.  He is determined to make the Corinthians (and US) understand how deep the sexual act really is!  In sex, man and woman are JOINED together.  They become one body.  And as Paul let us know in 1Co 6:13 our body is for the Lord!  When that is taken into consideration how can we (I!) possibly continue to commit sexual sins!  Sex is pleasurable and beautiful BUT it is meant for a time and place as ordained by God! Mt 19:4-6 
• This point is driven home ever more forcibly when Paul uses the same word (joined) to describe our spiritual relationship with God (after we have accepted and believe in His Son Jesus Christ!).  We are already in a holy relationship!  The Holy Spirit is in us now.  In our bodies!  How dare we (I!) use my body for anything less than holy and for anything other than God intended it for!!
• Definition -- Literally:  Glued together!

one body:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Jdg 20:1 Ro 12:4-5 1Co 12:12 1Co 12:13 1Co 12:18 1Co 12:20 Eph 4:4 Col 3:15 
• Thoughts -- As always Paul chooses the phrase "one body" for a reason!  He is stressing three things:  1)  That believers are now an individual member of a great body (the Church), our bodies are the Lord's so that we may serve Him as He wishes, and 3) that sexual union is a binding union as meant by God ( Mt 19:4-6  )

one flesh:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- Gen 2:24 Mt 19:4-6 Mk 10:8 Eph 5:31 
• Thoughts -- the term "one flesh" is only used to mean the sexual union of a man and a woman!  There is no wiggle room here!  There is to be no sex out of wedlock.  (be it with a prostitute or two consenting adults!)  To have illicit sex out of wedlock is not in God's plan for us!

one spirit:

• WORDSearch concordance search -- 1Co 12:9 1Co 12:13 Eph 2:18 Eph 4:4 Php 1:27 
• Thoughts -- Not a common phrase but it does seem that Paul is letting us know (or reminding us) that there is ONE Spirit!  The Holy Spirit of God.  It helps bind the Church together and it is also in us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We ARE joined to the Lord through the Holy Spirit!  Humbling!  To say the least.  And should make us all (ME) want to treat our bodies better!

Factual information from Study Helps

Bible Background Commentary:

• Some pagan cultures thought that prostitution was a useful deterrent to adultery!  A logic that is hard to follow BUT it explains why Paul was stressing prostitution in these verses.  Being with a prostitute was just as much a sin as "normal" adultery.  Paul has given no one any wiggle room on this subject!

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary:

• Points us to Hos 4:13-15 which calls out the hypocrisy of punishing prostitutes while tolerating men who visit prostitutes!  (again this is sadly not far removed from our own culture!)
• Also reminds us that Paul had to stress prostitution as there were many pagan places of worship in Corinth that used prostitution in their "services".  Paul had to cover all bases in making his arguments.

Answering My Questions

• Does Paul indeed mean the Church when he says our bodies are a part of Christ's body? -- Yes!!  See the verse cross-references for 1Co 6:15 
• Where are the actual words about sex belonging in marriage? (this is important to know!!) -- Gen 2:24-25 Mt 19:4-6 Mk 10:7-9 Eph 5:29-33 Pretty clear!
• Why does Paul end this section with his comments about us being joined to the Lord in spirit? Is he foreshadowing his thoughts in 1Co 6:19 ?? And why is this point important? -- Lots of reasons!  The Bible Background Commentary points out that Paul is making an allusion to the covenant with God.  But as God is not of flesh we can only be joined to Him in spirit.  But joined to Him we are.  Therefore our bodies our a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit.  If we are in a covenant with God, we should do as He commands and wants us to do.  Sexual immorality is not to be indulged in!!  And yes I do believe Paul is preparing his comments in 1Co 6:19 !!  That verse reinforces the point Paul has just made in 1Co 6:14-17

Summarizing

• Although it is easy to over look with all the juicier topics surrounding it, 1Co 6:14 is essential to everything Paul is discussing!  God raised Jesus, we believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accept Him as our Savior and Lord. We are saved from our on sinful nature!  God will raise us.  Without constant acknowledgement of that fact the rest of Paul's arguments could fall on our own deaf ears!!
• Although Paul stresses prostitution for cultural reasons, we need to understand that sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin.  God meant sex for the marriage union.  Gen 2:22-24 Mat 19:4-6 Mk 10:7-9 
• As Paul will discuss further in 1Co 6:19 , having accepted the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, we are now in a spiritual union with God!  We should act accordingly!

Topics for further study

• fornication, the term as used by Paul!
• The Holy Spirit, IN US!
• The thorn in Paul's side!

Bibliography

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