Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 6:2

"Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?" — 1 Corinthians 6:2 (ASV)

Do ye not know, etc. The object of this verse is evidently to show that Christians were qualified to determine controversies that might arise among themselves. The apostle shows this by reminding them that they will be engaged in determining matters of much greater importance than those that could arise among the members of a church on earth. He argues that if they are qualified for that, they must also be regarded as qualified to express a judgment on the questions that might arise among their brethren in the churches.

The saints. Christians; for the word is evidently used in the same sense as in 1 Corinthians 6:1. The apostle says that they knew this, or that this was so well-established a doctrine that none could doubt it. It was to be admitted by everyone.

Shall judge the world. A great variety of interpretations has been given to this passage. Grotius supposes it means that they will be first judged by Christ, and then act as assessors to Him in the judgment, or join with Him in condemning the wicked; and he appeals to Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30, where Christ says that they which have followed him should sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (See the note on Matthew 19:28).

Whitby supposes that it means that Christians are to judge or condemn the world by their example, or that there will be Christian magistrates, according to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 49:23) and Daniel (Daniel 7:18). Rosenmuller supposes it means that Christians are to judge the errors and sins of people pertaining to religion, as in 1 Corinthians 2:13, 16; and that they ought to be able, therefore, to judge the smaller matters pertaining to this life. Bloomfield, and the Greek Fathers and commentators, suppose that this means that the saints will furnish matter to condemn the world; that is, by their lives and example they will be the occasion of the greater condemnation of the world. But to this there are obvious objections:

1. It is an unusual meaning of the word judge.
2. It does not meet the case before us. The apostle is evidently saying that Christians will occupy so high and important a station in the work of judging the world that they ought to be regarded as qualified to exercise judgment on the things pertaining to this life. However, the fact that their holy lives will be the occasion of the deeper condemnation of the world does not seem to furnish any plain reason for this.

To the opinion also of Whitby, Lightfoot, Vitringa, etc., that it refers to the fact that Christians would be magistrates and governors, etc., according to the predictions of Isaiah and Daniel, there are obvious objections:

1. The judgment to which Paul in this verse refers is different from that pertaining to things of this life (1 Corinthians 6:3); but the judgment that Christian magistrates would exercise, as such, would relate to them.
2. It is not easy to see in this interpretation how, or in what sense, the saints will judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).

The common interpretation, that of Grotius, Beza, Calvin, Doddridge, etc., is that it refers to the future judgment, and that Christians will in that day be employed in some manner in judging the world. That this is the true interpretation is apparent, for the following reasons:

1. It is the obvious interpretation—that which will strike the great mass of people, and is likely, therefore, to be the true one.
2. It accords with the account in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30.
3. It is the only one that gives a fair interpretation to the declaration that the saints should judge angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).

If asked in what way this is to be done, it may be answered that it may be meant simply that Christians will be exalted to the right hand of the Judge and will encompass His throne. They will assent to and approve of His judgment; they will be elevated to a post of honor and favor, AS IF they were associated with Him in the judgment.

They will then be regarded as His friends and express their approbation—and that with a deep sense of its justice—of the condemnation of the wicked. Perhaps the idea is not that they will pronounce sentence, which will be done by the Lord Jesus.

Instead, they will then be qualified to see the justice of the condemnation that will be passed on the wicked. They will have a clear and distinct view of the case; they will even see the propriety of their everlasting punishment and will not only approve it but be qualified to enter into the subject and to pronounce upon it intelligently.

And the apostle's argument is that if they would be qualified to pronounce on the eternal doom of people and angels—if they had such views of justice and right, and such integrity as to form an opinion and express it regarding the everlasting destiny of an immense host of immortal beings—they assuredly ought to be qualified to express their sense of the smaller transactions in this life and pronounce an opinion between one person and another.

Are ye unworthy. Are you disqualified.

The smallest matters. Matters of least consequence—matters of little importance, scarcely worth naming, compared with the great and important realities of eternity. The "smallest matters" here mean the causes, suits, and litigations relating to property, etc.