1 Corinthians 6:11-20

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• Reading the Text
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
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  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Adultery," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter XV, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110).
  • Chapter VII, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110).
  • Chapter II, The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Polycarp of Smyrna (c 115).
  • IV.XXXVII.4, V.VI.2, V.VII.1, V.XIII.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • I.6, II.1, II.10, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • III.5, III.6, III.12, III.18, VII.14, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • II.1, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • II.3, To His Wife, Tertullian (c. 206)
  • Chapter LIII, On The Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • IV.34, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter X, Chapter XVI, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.7, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter VI, Chapter XVI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • II.VI.3, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.IX, VI.XLVII, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • XII.28, XIV.7, XIV.16, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Origen. (c.247)
  • On the Dress of Virgins, Cyprian of Carthage (c. 249)
  • Epistle LI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • On the Lord's Prayer -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Chapter XI, Historia Calamitatusm: The Story of My Misfortunes, Pierre Abélard / Peter Abelard, c. 1140.
  • Chapter 10, On Cleaving to God, Albertus Magnus, c. 1275.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "...Therefore the apostle shows that they are utterly unlike: for foods, he says, were made for the necessary use of man's life which is not perpetual: for both foods, and all this manner of nourishing, are quickly abolished. But we must not so think of the uncleanness of fornication, for which the body is not made, but on the other hand is ordained to purity, as appears by this, that is consecrated to Christ, even as Christ also is given us by his Father to enliven our bodies with that power with which he also rose again..."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, All things are lawful for me. This dangerous conceit St. Paul opposes."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Yield your bodies and all their members, as well as your souls and all their faculties, as instruments of righteousness to God. Devote and employ all ye have, and all ye are, entirely, unreservedly, and for ever, to his glory."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The Greek words are from the same root, whence there is a play on the words: All things are in my power, but I will not be brought under the power of any of them (the "all things")."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "Christ paid the price, even his blood. Hence, since both body and spirit are God's, both should be used to glorify him. The fact that we are his, purchased, parts of his spiritual temple, makes the obligation imperative to consecrate the body and spirit to his service."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Arland J. Hultgren, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Paul stresses that the believer in Christ also belongs to that same Lord. There is no such thing as being one's own. Each of us has commitments that bind us to other persons or ways of thinking and living."
  • "First Thoughts on Passages on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Epiphany 2," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "...Paul regularly shifts our focus from morality to relationships, just as he shifts our focus from law to freedom. But his notion of freedom is wise to issues of power and confronts the splitting and compartmentalisation which refuses to let God be God and love be love in everything."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Sex and the City of God," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Pornographic Culture," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2002.
  • "The Temple of the Holy Spirit," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • "God's Gift of the Body," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "Sit for a few moments and relax. As you sense your body's rhythms (or pains), thank God for the gift he gave you. Let those rhythms (or pains) remind you that you belong to God."
• Articles & Background:
  • "Eating Well: Seven Paradoxes of Plenty," Mary Louise Bringle, (other resources at) "Health," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2007.
    • "Eating well is not just about what we do or do not put into our mouths. Far more, it is about the complex ways we attend to the health of our bodies, our spirits, our communities, and our planet. Eating well first requires that we hunger and thirst after righteousness—for then, and only then, will we be fully satisfied."
  • "Boswell's Analysis of ArsenokoithV in 1 Cor 6:19 and 1 Tim 1:10," Stephen Carlson. (The reference is actually to 1 Cor 6:9.)
    • "Whatever one thinks of the residual uncertainty in concluding that arsenokoithV means a homosexual, one can say that this sense is much more probable than Boswell's."
  • "Why Won't Paul Just Say No? Purity and Sex in 1 Corinthians 6," Mark Gravrock, Volume XVI, Number 4, Word & World, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1996.
    • "After clearly saying no to several sexual aberrations, Paul even so refuses to say no to the slogan, 'All things are lawful for me.' Paul's new way of doing sexual ethics under the impact of the law-cursed Messiah opens the door to conclusions very different from those of Leviticus...or of Paul."
  • "No Kingdom of God for Softies? Or, What Was Paul Really Saying?" John H. Elliott, Biblical Theology Bulletin, 2004.
    • "Attempts at using allegedly relevant texts as moral guidelines today are subject to serious exegetical and hermeneutical constraints."
  • "Groups Protest Abstinence Site," Stephanie Martin, Group Magazine Talk Starter, 2005.
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  • Butting, Klara, "Pauline Variations on Genesis 2.24: Speaking of the Body of Christ in the Context of the Discussion of Lifestyles," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2001.
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  • Cook, Jonathan A., "Christian Typology and Social Critique in Melville's The Two Temples," Christianity and Literature, 2006.
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  • Draper, Jonathan A., "The Tip of an Ice-berg: the Temple of the Holy Spirit," Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1987.
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  • Gerike, Henry V., "Homiletical Helps on the LSB Series A - Gospels," Concordia Journal, 2005. (Section on this text begins on page 444.)
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  • Gravrock, Mark, "Why Won't Paul Just Say No? Purity and Sex in 1 Corinthians 6," Word & World, 1996.
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  • Klein, George L., "Hosea 3:1-3 -- Background to 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20," Criswell Theological Review, 1989.
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  • Moxnes, Halvor, "Asceticism and Christian Identity in Antiquity: A Dialogue with Foucault and Paul," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2003.
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    • Økland, Jorunn, "Sex Slaves of Christ: A Response to Halvor Moxnes," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2003.
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    • Riches, John, "Asceticism and Christian Identity in Antiquity: A Response," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2003.
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  • Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome, "Interpolations in 1 Corinthians," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1986.
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  • Rosser, Brian S., "Temple Prostitution in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20," Novum Testamentum, 1998.
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  • Sweeney, James, "Jesus, Paul and the Temple: An Exploration of Some Patterns of Continuity," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2003.
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  • West, Angela, "Sex and Salvation: a Christian Feminist Study of 1 Corinthians 6:12 - 7:39," Modern Churchman, 1987.
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• Reviews:
  • Review: Jacob Neusner, Rabbinic Literature and the New Testament: What We Cannot Show We Do Not Know. (Trinity Press International, 1994) Reviewed by J. Duncan M. Derrett in Higher Critical Review.
    • "...haggada about Adam, and halakha defining zeunût,, explain 1 Cor 6:15-18."
• Sermons:
  • "Eros and Ethics," Susan R. Andrews, 2004. Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
  • "Sermon for the Second Sunday of Epiphany," the Very Rev. Robert Giannini, Day 1, 2003.
• With Children:
  • "God Paid a Great Price for You," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Temple Tax, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page.
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 Corinthians 6:20. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • Jesus, Priceless Treasure
    • Savior, Like a Shepherd
    • The Church Has One Foundation
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Corinthians