1 Corinthians 6 · Verse 3

1 Corinthians 6:3

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1 Corinthians 6:3, King James Version

1 Corinthians 6:3 in other translations

BSBDo you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
WEBDon’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
ASVKnow ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?
YLThave ye not known that we shall judge messengers? why not then the things of life?
DARBYDo ye not know that we shall judge angels? and not then matters of this life?
BBEIs it not certain that we are to be the judges of angels? how much more then of the things of this life?
WebsterKnow ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?

What does 1 Corinthians 6:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. judge angels--namely, bad angels. We who are now "a spectacle to angels" shall then "judge angels." The saints shall join in approving the final sentence of the Judge on them (Jude 6). Believers shall, as administrators of the kingdom under Jesus, put down all rule that is hostile to God. Perhaps, too, good angels shall then receive from the Judge, with the approval of the saints, higher honors.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Shall judge angels. All the angels that shall be judged, good or bad. Probably the reference is to fallen angels, as there is no account that holy angels will then undergo a trial, The sense is, "Christians will be qualified to see the justice of even the sentence which is pronounced on fallen angels. They will be able so to embrace and comprehend the nature of law, and the interests of justice, as to see the propriety of their condemnation. And if they can so far enter into these important and eternal relations, assuredly they ought to be regarded as qualified to discern the nature of justice among men, and to settle the unimportant differences which may arise in the church." Or, perhaps, this may mean that the saints shall in the future world be raised to a rank m some respects more elevated than even the angels in heaven. (Prof. Stuart.) In what respects they will be thus elevated, if this is the true interpretation, can be only a matter of conjecture. It may be supposed that it will be because they have been favoured by being interested in the plan of salvation--a plan that has done so much to honour God; and that to have been thus saved by the immediate and painful intervention of the Son of God, will be a higher honour than all the privileges which beings can enjoy who are innocent themselves.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? - Dr. Lightfoot observes that "the apostle does not say here, as he said before, the saints shall judge the angels, but We shall judge them. By angels, all confess that demons are intended; but certainly all saints, according to the latitude with which that word is understood, i.e. all who profess Christianity, shall not judge angels. Nor is this judging of angels to be understood of the last day; but the apostle speaks of the ministers of the Gospel, himself and others, who, by the preaching of the Gospel, through the power of Christ, should spoil the devils of their oracles and their idols, should deprive them of their worship, should drive them out of their seats, and strip them of their dominion. Thus would God subdue the whole world under the Christian power, so that Christian magistrates should judge men, and Christian ministers judge devils."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes. In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them. They are trifles, and may easily be settled…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 →

1 Corinthians 6:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐκoukSurelyG3756
οἴδατεoidateyou know
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἀγγέλουςangelousangelsG32
κρινοῦμεν;krinoumenwe will judge?G2919
μήτιmētiSurely not everG3385
γεgeevenG1065
βιωτικά;biōtika[the] things of this life?G982

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 6:3

  • Jude 1:6

    And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

  • Matthew 25:41

    Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

  • 1 Corinthians 6:4

    If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

  • Luke 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • 2 Timothy 2:4

    No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

  • Luke 21:34

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

  • 2 Peter 2:4

    For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • 2 Timothy 4:10

    For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
judge.
Mt 25:41; 2Pe 2:4; Jude 1:6
pertain.
4; Ps 17:14; Lu 8:14; 21:34; 2Ti 2:4; 4:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 6:2

    Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

  • 1 Corinthians 6:3

    Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

  • 1 Corinthians 6:4

    If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 6

1 Corinthians 6:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿O no sabéis que hemos de juzgar á los ángeles? ¿cuánto más las cosas de este siglo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne savez-vous pas que nous jugerons les anges? et nous ne jugerions pas les affaires de cette vie?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wisset ihr nicht, daß wir Engel richten werden? geschweige denn Dinge dieses Lebens.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nescitis quoniam angelos judicabimus? quanto magis sæcularia?