The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 6:9 Explained

1 Corinthians 6:9

KJV: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

YLT: have ye not known that the unrighteous the reign of God shall not inherit? be not led astray; neither whoremongers, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites,

Darby: Do ye not know that unrighteous persons shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who make women of themselves, nor who abuse themselves with men,

ASV: Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<2228> Know ye  not  that  the unrighteous  shall  not  inherit  the kingdom  of God?  Be  not  deceived:  neither  fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulterers,  nor  effeminate,  nor  abusers of themselves with mankind, 

What does 1 Corinthians 6:9 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 - Settling Differences Between Brethren
The Apostle was clearly of the opinion that it was wiser for a Christian to bear injustice and wrong than to go to law before a heathen tribunal. It would have been a happy solution of myriads of disputes if his advice had been followed. Where a course of lawless crime has to be arrested in the interests of the weak and defenseless, it is necessary to call in the law and police to vindicate and protect; but when our private, personal and individual interests alone are concerned, we should be wise to submit our case to arbitration or suffer patiently.
Who are the heirs of the kingdom of heaven, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? Do not inquire into their past history. There are pages in their lives that had better be obliterated and forgotten; or, if remembered, they should be the foil to set forth the matchless grace and love of God. Yes, that grace shall be our theme forever, when we recall the depths out of which it lifted us, and the heights to which it raised us. Let us note that the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit are named together. It is by the Holy Spirit that we become possessed of the nature of our Lord, which takes the place of our old evil nature and empowers us to repeat His life. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 6

1  The Corinthians must take their brothers to court;
6  especially under infidels
9  The wicked shall not inherit the kingdom of God
15  Our bodies are the members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit:
19  they must not therefore be defiled

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 6:9

The unrighteous [αδικοι]
To remind them of the verb αδικεω — adikeō just used. [source]
The Kingdom of God [τεου βασιλειαν]
Precisely, God‘s kingdom. Be not deceived (μη πλαναστε — mē planāsthe). Present passive imperative with negative μη — mē Do not be led astray by plausible talk to cover up sin as mere animal behaviourism. Paul has two lists in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, one with repetition of ουτε — oute neither (fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, or μαλακοι — malakoi abusers of themselves with men or αρσενοκοιται — arsenokoitai or sodomites as in 1 Timothy 1:10 a late word for this horrid vice, thieves, covetous), the other with ου — ou not (drunkards, revilers, extortioners). All these will fall short of the kingdom of God. This was plain talk to a city like Corinth. It is needed today. It is a solemn roll call of the damned even if some of their names are on the church roll in Corinth whether officers or ordinary members. [source]
Be not deceived [μη πλαναστε]
Present passive imperative with negative μη — mē Do not be led astray by plausible talk to cover up sin as mere animal behaviourism. Paul has two lists in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, one with repetition of ουτε — oute neither (fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, or μαλακοι — malakoi abusers of themselves with men or αρσενοκοιται — arsenokoitai or sodomites as in 1 Timothy 1:10 a late word for this horrid vice, thieves, covetous), the other with ου — ou not (drunkards, revilers, extortioners). All these will fall short of the kingdom of God. This was plain talk to a city like Corinth. It is needed today. It is a solemn roll call of the damned even if some of their names are on the church roll in Corinth whether officers or ordinary members. [source]
Kingdom of God []
See on Luke 6:20. [source]
Fornicators []
The besetting sin of Corinth. Hence the numerous solemn and emphatic allusions to it in this epistle. See 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:15-18; 1 Corinthians 10:8. [source]
Effeminate [μαλακοὶ]
Luxurious and dainty. The word was used in a darker and more horrible sense, to which there may be an allusion here. [source]
Abusers, etc. []
See on Romans 1:7. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 6:9

Luke 6:20 Kingdom of God [ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ]
Matthew has kingdom of heaven, or of the heavens ( τῶν οὐρανῶν )a phrase used by him only, and most frequently employed by Christ himself to describe the kingdom; though Matthew also uses, less frequently, kingdom of God. The two are substantially equivalent terms, though the pre-eminent title was kingdom of God, since it was expected to be fully realized in the Messianic era, when God should take upon himself the kingdom by a visible representative. Compare Isaiah 40:9, “Behold your God. ” The phrase kingdom of Heaven was common in the Rabbinical writings, and had a double signification: the historical kingdom and the spiritual and moral kingdom. They very often understood by it divine worship; adoration of God; the sum of religious duties; but also the Messianic kingdom. The kingdom of God is, essentially, the absolute dominion of God in the universe, both in a physical and a spiritual sense. It is “an organic commonwealth which has the principle of its existence in the will of God” (Tholuck). It was foreshadowed in the Jewish theocracy. The idea of the kingdom advanced toward clearer definition from Jacob's prophecy of the Prince out of Judah (Genesis 49:10), through David's prophecy of the everlasting kingdom and the king of righteousness and peace (Daniel 7:14-27; Daniel 4:25; Daniel 2:44). In this sense it was apprehended by John the Baptist. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The ideal kingdom is to be realized in the absolute rule of the eternal Son, Jesus Christ, by whom all things are made and consist (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-20), whose life of perfect obedience to God and whose sacrificial offering of love upon the cross reveal to men their true relation to God, and whose spirit works to bring them into this relation. The ultimate idea of the kingdom is that of “a redeemed humanity, with its divinely revealed destiny manifesting itself in a religious communion, or the Church; asocial communion, or the state; and an aesthetic communion, expressing itself in forms of knowledge and art.”-DIVIDER-
This kingdom is both present (Matthew 11:12; Matthew 12:28; Matthew 16:19; Luke 11:20; Luke 16:16; Luke 17:21; see, also, the parables of the Sower, the Tares, the Leaven, and the Drag-net; and compare the expression “theirs, or yours, is the kingdom,” Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20) and future (Daniel 7:27; Matthew 13:43; Matthew 19:28; Matthew 25:34; Matthew 26:29; Mark 9:47; 2 Peter 1:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 20:1-15 sq.). As a present kingdom it is incomplete and in process of development. It is expanding in society like the grain of mustard seed (Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:32); working toward the pervasion of society like the leaven in the lump (Matthew 13:33). God is in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and the Gospel of Christ is the great instrument in that process (2 Corinthians 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:20). The kingdom develops from within outward under the power of its essential divine energy and law of growth, which insures its progress and final triumph against all obstacles. Similarly, its work in reconciling and subjecting the world to God begins at the fountain-head of man's life, by implanting in his heart its own divine potency, and thus giving a divine impulse and direction to the whole man, rather than by moulding him from without by a moral code. The law is written in his heart. In like manner the State and the Church are shaped, not by external pressure, like the Roman empire and the Roxnish hierarchy, but by the evolution of holy character in men. The kingdom of God in its present development is not identical with the Church. It is a larger movement which includes the Church. The Church is identified with the kingdom to the degree in which it is under the power of the spirit of Christ. “As the Old Testament kingdom of God was perfected and completed when it ceased to be external, and became internal by being enthroned in the heart, so, on the other hand, the perfection of the New Testament kingdom will consist in its complete incarnation and externalization; that is, when it shall attain an outward manifestation, adequately expressing, exactly corresponding to its internal principle” (Tholuck). The consummation is described in Revelation 21,22. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

1 Corinthians 6:7 Fault among you [ἥττημα ἐν ὑμῖν]
Only here and Romans 11:12. See note. Ἥττημα faultis from ἥττων lessLit., diminution, decrease. Hence used in the sense of defeat, Isaiah 31:8: “Young men shall be discomfited lit., shall be for diminution.” Similarly the kindred verb ἡττάομαι , in 2 Corinthians 12:13, made inferior; and in 2 Peter 2:19, 2 Peter 2:20, overcome. See note there. Compare 1Corinthians href="/desk/?q=1co+6:8&sr=1">1 Corinthians 6:8) is a source of damage, resulting in forfeiture of the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9), and in loss of spiritual power. [source]
1 Corinthians 6:9 The Kingdom of God [τεου βασιλειαν]
Precisely, God‘s kingdom. Be not deceived (μη πλαναστε — mē planāsthe). Present passive imperative with negative μη — mē Do not be led astray by plausible talk to cover up sin as mere animal behaviourism. Paul has two lists in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, one with repetition of ουτε — oute neither (fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, or μαλακοι — malakoi abusers of themselves with men or αρσενοκοιται — arsenokoitai or sodomites as in 1 Timothy 1:10 a late word for this horrid vice, thieves, covetous), the other with ου — ou not (drunkards, revilers, extortioners). All these will fall short of the kingdom of God. This was plain talk to a city like Corinth. It is needed today. It is a solemn roll call of the damned even if some of their names are on the church roll in Corinth whether officers or ordinary members. [source]
1 Corinthians 6:9 Be not deceived [μη πλαναστε]
Present passive imperative with negative μη — mē Do not be led astray by plausible talk to cover up sin as mere animal behaviourism. Paul has two lists in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10, one with repetition of ουτε — oute neither (fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, or μαλακοι — malakoi abusers of themselves with men or αρσενοκοιται — arsenokoitai or sodomites as in 1 Timothy 1:10 a late word for this horrid vice, thieves, covetous), the other with ου — ou not (drunkards, revilers, extortioners). All these will fall short of the kingdom of God. This was plain talk to a city like Corinth. It is needed today. It is a solemn roll call of the damned even if some of their names are on the church roll in Corinth whether officers or ordinary members. [source]
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived [μὴ πλανᾶσθε]
For the phrase see 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:33; James 1:16. Deceive is a secondary sense; the primary meaning being lead astray. See on Mark 12:24. The connection of the exhortation may be with the entire section from Galatians 6:1(Eadie and Sieffert), but is more probably with Galatians 6:6. The Galatians are not to think that it is a matter of no consequence whether their fellowship be with their Christian teachers who preach the word of truth, or with the Judaising innovators who would bring them under bondage to the law. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:12 Walk worthily of God [περιπατειν αχιως του τεου]
Present infinitive (linear action), and genitive case with adverb αχιως — axiōs as in Colossians 1:10 (cf. Philemon 1:27; Ephesians 4:1), like a preposition. Calleth (καλουντος — kalountos). Present active participle, keeps on calling. Some MSS. have καλεσαντος — kalesantos called. Kingdom (βασιλειαν — basileian) here is the future consummation because of glory (δοχαν — doxan) as in 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:18), but Paul uses it for the present kingdom of grace also as in 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:13. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:12 Kingdom [βασιλειαν]
(βασιλειαν — basileian) here is the future consummation because of glory (δοχαν — doxan) as in 2 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:18), but Paul uses it for the present kingdom of grace also as in 1 Corinthians 4:20; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:13. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 Them that defile themselves with mankind [ἀρσενοκοίταις]
Only here and 1 Corinthians 6:9. olxx, oClass. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 For abusers of themselves with men [αρσενοκοιταις]
Late compound for sodomites. In N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 6:9. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 Men-stealers [ανδραποδισταις]
Old word from ανδραποδιζω — andrapodizō (from ανηρ — anēr man, πους — pous foot, to catch by the foot), to enslave. So enslavers, whether kidnappers (men-stealers) of free men or stealers of the slaves of other men. So slave-dealers. By the use of this word Paul deals a blow at the slave-trade (cf. Philemon). Liars (πσευσταις — pseustais). Old word, see Romans 3:4. False swearers Old word Perjurers. Only here in N.T. For similar lists, see note on 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9.; Galatians 5:19.; Romans 1:28.; Romans 13:13; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 3:2. The sound doctrine (αντικειται — tēi hugiainousēi didaskaliāi). Dative case after υγιαινω — antikeitai for which verb see Galatians 5:17 for the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. “The healthful (hugiainō old word for being well, as Luke 5:31; 3 John 1:2, in figurative sense in N.T. only in the Pastorals) teaching.” See Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:3. [source]
1 Timothy 1:10 False swearers [επιορκοις]
Old word Perjurers. Only here in N.T. For similar lists, see note on 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9.; Galatians 5:19.; Romans 1:28.; Romans 13:13; Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; 2 Timothy 3:2. The sound doctrine (αντικειται — tēi hugiainousēi didaskaliāi). Dative case after υγιαινω — antikeitai for which verb see Galatians 5:17 for the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. “The healthful (hugiainō old word for being well, as Luke 5:31; 3 John 1:2, in figurative sense in N.T. only in the Pastorals) teaching.” See Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:3. [source]
2 Timothy 4:18 Heavenly kingdom [τὴν βασιλείαν τὴν ἐπουράνιον]
The phrase N.T.o Ἑπουράνιος heavenlyonly here in Pastorals. Mostly in Paul and Hebrews. Heavenly kingdom, here the future, glorified life, as 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Luke 13:29. In the same sense, kingdom of Christ and of God, Ephesians 5:5; kingdom of their Father, Matthew 13:43; my Father's kingdom, Matthew 26:29; kingdom prepared for you, Matthew 25:34; eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 1:11. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 6:9 mean?

Or not know you that [the] unrighteous ones of God [the] kingdom not will inherit Not be deceived neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters adulterers effeminate homosexuals
οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἄδικοι Θεοῦ βασιλείαν οὐ κληρονομήσουσιν μὴ πλανᾶσθε οὔτε πόρνοι οὔτε εἰδωλολάτραι μοιχοὶ μαλακοὶ ἀρσενοκοῖται

οἴδατε  know  you 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἄδικοι  [the]  unrighteous  ones 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄδικος 
Sense: descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
βασιλείαν  [the]  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: βασιλεία  
Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule.
κληρονομήσουσιν  will  inherit 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κληρονομέω  
Sense: to receive a lot, receive by lot.
πλανᾶσθε  be  deceived 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
οὔτε  neither 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
πόρνοι  the  sexually  immoral 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πόρνος  
Sense: a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire.
οὔτε  nor 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
εἰδωλολάτραι  idolaters 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: εἰδωλολάτρης  
Sense: a worshipper of false gods, a idolater.
μοιχοὶ  adulterers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μοιχός  
Sense: an adulterer.
μαλακοὶ  effeminate 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μαλακός  
Sense: soft, soft to the touch.
ἀρσενοκοῖται  homosexuals 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρσενοκοίτης  
Sense: one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual.