Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not deceive yourselves: that neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
6:9
— Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? — The phrase, “Do you not know?”, exposes the arrogance of the Corinthians in boasting of being so wise. Similarly, Jesus repeatedly asked the scribes (scribes): “Have you never read?” (Matt 21:15-16). Another rhetorical question is addressed to the church in Corinth. What is the implication? It is that by converting to Christ, the person leaves the things of injustice that prohibit entrance to heaven. In the previous verse Paul finished accusing them of committing wrongs, or injustices (HA), (adikeo); he now he says that the unjust (adikos) will not inherit the kingdom of God. In Greek, the connection between the two things is very close. Here the word “injustice” is like the synthesis of all the sins in the list that follows. The list is representative, not exhaustive. see Gal 5:21, “things like these.” Obviously what the Corinthians were doing would prohibit them from entering the kingdom of God (in heaven). This being the case, it is also obvious that the Christian can sin in such a way that he falls from grace and is eternally lost. Apostasy is not impossible! (Calvinism teaches the opposite.) Although the term “kingdom” applies to the church now (Matt 16:18-19; Mark 9:1; Luke 22:16; Col 1:13; Hebrews 12:28), also applies to the kingdom in its eternal aspect (2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 1:11). In this case here, since the Corinthians were in the church, the term “kingdom” is applied to the eternal aspect of it. The idea of ”inherit” is used in Romans 8:17; Christians are heirs. Heaven (eternal life) is your inheritance (Matt 19:29; Matt 25:34; Luke 10:25; Eph 1:14). — Do not be mistaken — “Do not be fooled” (BA). Other good versions use a phrase not to be deceived (ASV., PB, VM, RVA., LA, NVI., NTP., 1977. BJ, etc.). The Corinthians (and everyone else) were responsible for any self-deception. Many are the warnings in the New Testament against being deceived, against false criteria. Materialism (the love of money, or what can be bought with it) deceives many people, causing them to commit much injustice (sin in general). Many are deceived about the sinfulness of being the people listed below in this verse, and the next. In the modern world fornication is generally presented not as a sin but as an affair. Drunkenness is considered a disease (for which the “sick person” is not responsible). Homosexuality is defended with more and more public acceptance, even in many of the modern churches. There are even brothers in the faith who defend adulterous marriages, stating that adultery has nothing to do with sex, but only with the act of divorcing and remarrying. All these are deceived, and they are deceiving others. — nor fornicators — See 5:1, comments. — nor idolaters — See 5:10, comments. — nor adulterers — Adultery is illicit sex with a married person. While fornication is a comprehensive term, adultery is limited to illicit sex involving a married person. Two people can be “married”, according to the laws of the country, and at the same time be in adultery (Matt 5:32; Matt 19:9; Tue 6:17; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3). — nor the effeminate — The Greek word (malakos) means “soft”, “delicate”, “soft”, and of the four times that it appears in the New Testament, three times and with reference to clothing, it is translated as (Matt 11:8; Luke 7:25, twice). Here almost all versions translate the word, “effeminate.” They are men who are “kept for unnatural purposes” (says the NW Version). They are the ones who take the role of the woman in the homosexual act. — nor those who lie with men — Other versions use the word “homosexuals”, or “sodomites”. These are the ones who take the role of the man in the homosexual act. see Gen 19:1-11 (from this case comes the word, “sodomite”); Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13; Deu 23:17; Joshua chapter 19,20; Romans 1:26-27; 1Ti 1:10; 2Pe 2:6-10; Jude 1:7-8). Despite so many passages that expose the vileness of homosexuality, there are modern churches that approve of this act and defend the right of homosexuals to serve as clergy. Of course, they are modernist churches.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
You do not know. 1Co 6:2, 1Co 6:3, 1Co 6:15, 1Co 6:16, 1Co 6:19; 1Co 3:16; 1Co 9:24.
than the unjust. Exo 23:1; Lev 19:15, Lev 19:35, Lev 19:36; Deu 25:13-16; pro 11:1; Pro 22:8; Isaiah 10:1, Isaiah 10:2; Isaiah 55:7; Zech 5:3; Ac 24:25; Romans 1:18; 1Ti 1:9.
they will not possess the kingdom of God. 1Co 6:10; 1Co 15:50; Matt 19:29; Matt 25:34; Gal 5:21.
nor fornicators. 1Co 5:1, 1Co 5:10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:4, Eph 5:5; 1Ti 1:9; Hebrews 12:14, Hebrews 12:16; Hebrews 13:4; Rev 21:8; Rev 22:15.
nor those who lie with men. Gen 19:5; Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13; Deu 22:5; Deu 23:17; Thu 19:22; Romans 1:26, Romans 1:27; 1Ti 1:10.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
God’s kingdom: Here it seems to refer to a future time when God will rule the earth with justice (Matt 6:10; Luke 11:2).
You will not err: Tragically, Christians sometimes delude themselves into thinking that God does not require them to live righteously. Paul emphasizes that such people do not will inherit God’s kingdom.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
THE UNJUST WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Some in Corinth were deluded into believing that even if they fell out of fellowship with Christ, denied Him, and lived in immorality and unrighteousness, their salvation and inheritance in the kingdom of God would still be secure.
(1) However, Paul affirms that spiritual death is the inevitable consequence of habitual sin, even for the believer (cf. Romans 8:13). No one can live forever desiring immoral delight and still inherit the kingdom of God (cf. Romans 6:16; Jas 1:15; see 1Jn 2:4note; 1Jn 3:9, note). The apostle Paul frequently repeats that foundational teaching (eg, Gal 5:21 Y Eph 5:5-6). Note that OT prophets frequently proclaimed this principle (see Jer 8:7note; Jer 23:17note; Eze 13:10note).
(2) Paul’s warning is to the entire community of believers. No one should be deceived, because “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Salvation without the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit has no place in Paul’s theology.
Source: Full Life Study Bible
they will not inherit the kingdom of God. The kingdom is the realm of salvation where God rules as King over all who belong to him by faith (see notes on Matt 5:3 ; Matt 5:10). All believers are in that spirit realm but await entrance into their full inheritance in the age to come. People who are characterized by such iniquities are not saved (v. 1Co 6:10). See notes on 1Jn 3:9-10. While believers can and do commit these sins, they do not characterize them as a consistent pattern of life. If this is so, it shows that the person is not in the kingdom of God. True believers who sin hate that sin and seek to gain victory over it (cf. Romans 7:14-25). fornicators. All who indulge in sexual immorality, but particularly single people. idolaters Those who worship any false god or follow any false religious system. adulterers. Married people who indulge in sexual acts outside of their marriage. the effeminate … those who lie with men. These terms refer to those who interchange and corrupt the normal masculine and feminine functions in sexual relations. This includes perversions such as changing sex or wearing the trappings of the opposite sex (cp. Gen 1:27; Deu 22:5). In the Greek text, homosexuals are called sodomites because of the sexual sin that dominated men in the city of Sodom (Gen 18:20; Gen 19:4-5). This sinful perversion is always and in every way condemned in the Scriptures (cf. Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1Ti 1:10).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
This catalog of sins, although not exhaustive, represents the main types of moral sin that characterize the unsaved.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
6:9 — Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? — The phrase, “Do you not know?”, exposes the arrogance of the Corinthians in boasting of being so wise. Similarly, Jesus repeatedly asked the scribes (scribes): “Have you never read?” (Matt 21:15-16).
Another rhetorical question is addressed to the church in Corinth. What is the implication? It is that by converting to Christ, the person leaves the things of injustice that prohibit entrance to heaven.
In the previous verse Paul finished accusing them of committing wrongs, or injustices (HA), (adikeo); he now he says that the unjust (adikos) will not inherit the kingdom of God. In Greek, the connection between the two things is very close. Here the word “injustice” is like the synthesis of all the sins in the list that follows. The list is representative, not exhaustive. See Gal 5:21, “things like these.”
Obviously what the Corinthians were doing would prohibit them from entering the kingdom of God (in heaven). This being the case, it is also obvious that the Christian can sin in such a way that he falls from grace and is eternally lost. Apostasy is not impossible! (Calvinism teaches the opposite.)
Although the term “kingdom” applies to the church now (Matt 16:18-19; Mark 9:1; Luke 22:16; Col 1:13; Heb 12:28), it also applies to the kingdom in its eternal aspect (2Ti 4:18; 2Pe 1:11). In this case here, since the Corinthians were in the church, the term “kingdom” is applied to the eternal aspect of it.
The idea of ”inherit” is used in Rom 8:17; Christians are heirs. Heaven (eternal life) is your inheritance (Matt 19:29; Mat 25:34; Luke 10:25; Eph 1:14).
— Do not be mistaken — “Do not be fooled” (BA). Other good versions use a phrase not to be deceived (ASV., PB, VM, RVA., LA, NVI., NTP., 1977. BJ, etc.).
The Corinthians (and everyone else) were responsible for any self-deception. Many are the warnings in the New Testament against being deceived, against false criteria.
Materialism (the love of money, or what can be bought with it) deceives many people, causing them to commit much injustice (sin in general). Many are deceived about the sinfulness of being the people listed below in this verse, and the next. In the modern world fornication is generally presented not as a sin but as an affair. Drunkenness is considered a disease (for which the “sick person” is not responsible). Homosexuality is defended with more and more public acceptance, even in many of the modern churches. There are even brothers in the faith who defend adulterous marriages, stating that adultery has nothing to do with sex, but only with the act of divorcing and remarrying. All…