Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?This phrase emphasizes the believer's union with Christ, a central theme in Pauline theology. In
1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul reiterates that believers are the body of Christ, each one a part of it. This union signifies a spiritual and mystical connection, where the physical body is not merely a vessel but an integral part of Christ's body. The concept of being "members" suggests a collective identity, where each believer contributes to the whole. Historically, Corinth was a city known for its immorality, and the temple of Aphrodite, with its temple prostitutes, was a prominent feature. This context highlights the radical nature of Paul's teaching, calling believers to a higher standard of holiness and separation from the prevalent cultural practices.
Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute?
Paul uses a rhetorical question to challenge the Corinthians' understanding of their spiritual identity. The act of uniting with a prostitute is not just a physical act but a spiritual violation of their union with Christ. InGenesis 2:24, the concept of two becoming one flesh is introduced, which Paul later references inEphesians 5:31-32 to describe the profound mystery of Christ and the church. The cultural backdrop of Corinth, with its acceptance of sexual immorality, contrasts sharply with the biblical call to purity. This phrase underscores the seriousness of sexual sin, not just as a moral failing but as a spiritual breach.
Never!
Paul's emphatic rejection of the idea serves as a strong moral and theological rebuke. The Greek term used here, "mē genoito," is one of the strongest expressions of denial in the New Testament, often translated as "God forbid" in other versions. This reflects the absolute incompatibility of such actions with the believer's identity in Christ. The exclamation serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the transformative power of the gospel, which calls believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1). The use of such a strong negation highlights the gravity of the issue and the necessity for the Corinthians to realign their lives with the teachings of Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Paul the ApostleThe author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth with guidance and correction.
2.
The Church in CorinthA diverse and often troubled congregation in a major Greek city known for its immorality and idolatry.
3.
ChristCentral to the passage, representing the spiritual union believers have with Him.
4.
ProstitutesSymbolic of sexual immorality, which was prevalent in Corinth and a significant issue Paul addresses.
5.
CorinthA cosmopolitan city known for its wealth, commerce, and moral laxity, providing the backdrop for the issues Paul addresses.
Teaching Points
Understanding Our Identity in ChristRecognize that as believers, our bodies are not our own but are members of Christ. This identity should guide our actions and decisions.
The Call to PuritySexual immorality is incompatible with our union with Christ. We are called to live in a way that honors Him, reflecting His holiness in our bodies.
The Seriousness of SinPaul uses strong language to emphasize the gravity of uniting with a prostitute, highlighting the spiritual implications of our physical actions.
The Importance of Community AccountabilityAs members of Christ's body, we are interconnected. Our actions affect not only ourselves but the entire body of believers.
Living as a WitnessOur conduct should reflect our relationship with Christ, serving as a testimony to the world of His transformative power.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:15?
2.How does 1 Corinthians 6:15 emphasize the sanctity of our bodies in Christ?
3.What does "members of Christ" imply about our relationship with Jesus?
4.How can we avoid uniting with sin, as warned in 1 Corinthians 6:15?
5.Connect 1 Corinthians 6:15 with Romans 12:1 on presenting our bodies to God.
6.How can understanding 1 Corinthians 6:15 influence our daily moral decisions?
7.What does 1 Corinthians 6:15 mean by "members of Christ"?
8.How does 1 Corinthians 6:15 address the concept of bodily sanctity?
9.Why does Paul emphasize the body as part of Christ in 1 Corinthians 6:15?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Corinthians 6?
11.What is the Bible's stance on prostitution?
12.How are Church Business Meetings conducted effectively?
13.Does the declaration “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19) conflict with the broader biblical theme of free will and personal responsibility?
14.What defines the Church of Christ?What Does 1 Corinthians 6:15 Mean
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”
• Paul reminds believers of a truth they should already grasp: when we trusted in Jesus, we were spiritually joined to Him, becoming part of His very body (1 Corinthians 12:27;Ephesians 5:30).
• This union is not abstract; it reaches right down to our physical bodies. What we do with our flesh reflects on Christ because He has claimed every part of us (Romans 12:1;Romans 6:13).
• Our identity is therefore inseparable from His. Just as branches draw life from the vine (John 15:5), our bodies draw purpose and holiness from our living Head.
Shall I then take the members of Christ“Shall I then take the members of Christ…”
• Paul uses a shocking hypothetical to expose the absurdity of dragging Christ’s members into sin.
• The word “take” pictures wrenching body parts away from their God-given place—an act both violent and unthinkable (Colossians 1:18).
• Because God has joined us to Christ, the believer has no right to reassign his or her body to any rival claim (Matthew 19:6).
• We cannot compartmentalize spirituality: the same body that serves in worship gatherings is the body that must honor Christ in private (1 Corinthians 3:16).
and unite them with a prostitute? Never!“…and unite them with a prostitute? Never!”
• Sexual sin creates a “one flesh” bond (1 Corinthians 6:16;Genesis 2:24). To engage a prostitute—or any sexual activity outside God’s design—is to forcibly link Christ’s members to immorality.
• Such a union profanes the sacred relationship Christ shares with His church, which is meant to picture covenant faithfulness (Ephesians 5:31-32).
• Paul’s exclamation “Never!” expresses moral outrage. It affirms that for those in Christ, sexual immorality is not a harmless private choice but a direct assault on His holiness (Ephesians 5:3;Hebrews 13:4).
• The believer’s only fitting response is decisive refusal, fueled by gratitude for redemption and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:24-25).
summaryBecause our bodies belong to Christ, every decision involving them carries kingdom significance. To misuse our bodies in sexual sin would drag the very members of Christ into impurity—a contradiction so severe Paul can only cry, “Never!” Embracing this truth guards our purity, honors our Savior, and showcases the holy union we enjoy with Him.
(15)
Shall I then. . .?--Having shown the great dignity which attaches to our bodies as immortal members of Christ, the Apostle asks with indignant emphasis, "Shall I take them out from that high and holy membership, and make them members of an harlot?" The double act of taking them away from their glorious union with Christ, and joining them to a base body, is implied in the Greek.
Verse 15. -
Members of Christ. We find the same metaphor in
1 Corinthians 12:12, 27;
Ephesians 5:30. The Church is often alluded to as "the body of Christ" (
Ephesians 1:23;
Colossians 1:18;
Colossians 2:19, etc.). Elsewhere the union between Christ and Christians is described by the metaphor of a tree and its branches; a building and the stones of which it is composed (
Ephesians 2:21, 22).
God forbid. An admirable idiom to express the real force of the original, which means, "May it never be!" (for the
rationale of the Greek phrase, I may refer to my 'Brief Greek Syntax,' p. 135). It occurs in
Romans 3:4, 6, 31;
Romans 6:15;
Romans 7:7, 13;
Romans 9:14;
Romans 11:1, 11;
Galatians 2:17;
Galatians 3:21. The formula, which involves the indignant rejection of some false conclusion, is characteristic of the second group of St. Paul's Epistles, but especially (as will be seen) of the Epistle to the Romans.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Do you not knowοἴδατε(oidate)Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1492:To know, remember, appreciate.thatὅτι(hoti)Conjunction
Strong's 3754:Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.yourὑμῶν(hymōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.bodiesσώματα(sōmata)Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4983:Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.areἐστιν(estin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.membersμέλη(melē)Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3196:A bodily organ, limb, member. Of uncertain affinity; a limb or part of the body.of Christ?Χριστοῦ(Christou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.Shall I then takeἄρας(aras)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 142:To raise, lift up, take away, remove.theτὰ(ta)Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.membersμέλη(melē)Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3196:A bodily organ, limb, member. Of uncertain affinity; a limb or part of the body.of ChristΧριστοῦ(Christou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.and unite [them]ποιήσω(poiēsō)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4160:(a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.with a prostitute?πόρνης(pornēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4204:A prostitute; met: an idolatrous community. Feminine of pornos; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater.Never!γένοιτο(genoito)Verb - Aorist Optative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096:A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.
Links
1 Corinthians 6:15 NIV1 Corinthians 6:15 NLT1 Corinthians 6:15 ESV1 Corinthians 6:15 NASB1 Corinthians 6:15 KJV
1 Corinthians 6:15 BibleApps.com1 Corinthians 6:15 Biblia Paralela1 Corinthians 6:15 Chinese Bible1 Corinthians 6:15 French Bible1 Corinthians 6:15 Catholic Bible
NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 6:15 Don't you know that your bodies (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) 
