Hermeneutics

session 3: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 AND WORD study

A.
1.

CONTEXTUAL STUDY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20

SECTION (S)
a.

SECTION LIMITS - Identify the section where the verse is located.

a.

THE SECTION LIMITS OF 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 is

1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 should be considered one entire section because its main
idea is obviously different from other sections before and after it. 1 Corinthians
6:1-11 talks about court cases between fellow believers, while,1 Corinthians
7:1-40 is an entire section that discusses marriage, engagement and other social
norms that the Corinthians are trying to change to attain spiritual fulfillment.
Thus, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 should be considered a distinct section in itself. 1
But what repeated concepts can give us clues to the main idea of 1 Corinthians
6:12-20? The word group immoral (porneia) was used 5 times in this section.
Immorality in 6:13; immoral person (or harlot in NASB; pornes in 6:15 and 6:16; immorality in 6:18; and he who is immoral
(or immoral man in NASB; porneuon - ) in 6:18.
Likewise, the word body/bodies (soma -

), in the 9 verses of 1
Corinthians 6:12-10, was also used 8 times (6:13 [2x], 15, 16, 18 [2x], 19, 20).
The fact that the immorality is done with a pornes (harlot) clearly suggests
that it is sexual immorality, which is referred here.
Thus, the main idea of the section has something to do with both body and
sexual immorality with a harlot or prostitute Try to state in one sentence
Pauls main idea in section 6:12-20 concerning body and sexual immorality.

b.

SECTION MAIN IDEA - State the main idea of the section in one or two
sentences.

b.

THE SECTION MAIN IDEA OF 5:1-13 is

Do not use your body for sexual immorality with a harlot.

2.

UNITS (U)
a.

UNITS OF THE SECTION - Divide the section into different units.

a.

THE UNITS OF THE SECTION are

1 Corinthians 6:12; 6:13-14; 6:15-17; 6:18; and 6:19-20.

The entire section 6:12-20 is composed of smaller units with their own smaller
subjects. These smaller subjects are saying something about the main idea of
the section.
Perhaps, the clearest example is unit 6:15-17 that talks about the smaller
subject of being joined with Christ and being joined with a harlot. There is
also a clear smaller subject in unit 6:19-20 about the body as the temple of
the Holy Spirit.
Based on smaller subjects, we have identified two distinct units in the section.
There are obviously other units in the section that need to be identified. Before

1
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 is different in content from 5:1-13, where only one member openly practices sexual
immorality with his fathers wife. Sexual immorality in 6:12-20 is practiced with prostitutes and is probably committed
not just by one person.

we do that, it is probably easier to state what these two units (6:15-17 and 6:1920) are saying in relation to the main idea of the section. Doing this may give
us some clues on how to identify the other units and their main points.
What is 6:15-17 and other units saying concerning the main idea of the section?

b.
UNIT MAIN POINTS - State the main point of the units in one or two
sentences.
b.

THE UNIT MAIN POINTS IN RELATION TO THE MAIN IDEA OF THE

SECTION are

Section main idea

Do not use your body for sexual immorality with a harlot.
section UNITS
Unit main points

3.

6:12

because sexual immorality is not profitable

and it will master you. 2

6:13-14

because the body is for the Lord and3 God

will raise it up through His power. 4

6:15-17

because your bodies are already members of

Christ. 5

6:18

because you are sinning against your own

body.

6:19-20

because God bought your body with a price

to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

INTERPRETATION (I)
Interpret the verse in relation to the main idea of the section and the main point of
the unit where it is located.

2
The statement Everything is permissible for me is probably a Corinthian slogan that they coined to
describe their uncontrolled and lawless lifestyle.
3
The word , which is translated in NASB as but can also be translated as and. In this case, it is
better to translate it as and, because 6:13a and 6:13b are probably both positions of the Corinthian believers.
4
This is another slogan coined by some Corinthian believers. The Corinthians are practicing sexual
immorality, because of two wrong beliefs: (a) they think that just like the stomach, which main purpose is for food, the
bodys main purpose is also for sexual immorality; (b) just like the food and stomach, which will be destroyed some
day, God will also destroy both the body and sexual immorality. So why bother to respect the body.
Paul corrects these Corinthian beliefs that cause them to disrespect the body through sexual immorality. Paul
argues in 6:13 that the main purpose of the body is not really for sexual immorality but for the Lord. And God will not
destroy the body but will raise it up, just like He raised the Lord from the dead (6:14). These reasons should make the
Corinthians respect their bodies by not using it for sexual immorality. This can also be illustrated in diagram form
below.

ROLE OF THE BODYFUTURE OF THE BODYCORINTHIANS POSITIONJust as the stomach is only for food, so is
the body for sexual immorality (6:13a).God will destroy the body and sexual immorality some day (6:13b).PAULS
POSITIONTHE BODY IS NOT FOR SEXUAL IMMORALITY, BUT FOR THE LORD (6:13B).THE BODY WILL NOT
BE DESTROYED BY GOD SOME DAY, BUT RAISE IT THROUGH HIS POWER (6:14).
5

Paul employs the chiastic structure in his 2nd reason.

(A) 6:15a

Your bodies are members of Christ and became one with him.
(B) 6:15b
Therefore, you never take away the members of Christ and make
them members of a prostitute.
(B) 6:16

(A) 6:17

If you join your body to a prostitute, you become one with her.
But you already joined yourself to the Lord and became one spirit with Him.

THE INTERPRETATION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 IN RELATION TO THE

UNIT MAIN POINT AND SECTION MAIN IDEA is
The main idea of section 6:12-20 is about why we should not use the body for
sexual immorality with a harlot. There are 5 units that give 5 reasons why we
should not use the body for sexual immorality. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is the 5th
unit and 5th reason. You cannot use your body for sexual immorality with a
harlot, because God bought your body with a price to be the temple of the Holy
Spirit. Therefore, glorify God in your body by not using it for sexual
immorality.

B.

THE PRINCIPLE OF 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12-20

Strictly speaking, 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 seems to deal only with the problem of
using the body for sexual immorality with prostitutes. However, in solving this specific
issue, Paul did not just give them quick and easy instructions to stop doing this sin. He
dealt with their sin by teaching them general principles, which stress the truth that their
body is too sacred to be used for sexual immorality. Thus, even if the issue is not
concerning the use of prostitutes, whenever the body is being used for sexually
immorality, we can expect Paul to apply the same principles in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.
Do not use your body for sexual immorality, because
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

C.

immorality is not profitable and it will master you;

the body is for the Lord and God will raise it up through
His power;
your bodies are already members of Christ;
you are sinning against your own body; and
God bought your body with a price to be the Temple of the
Holy Spirit.

AN APPLICATION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12

A very powerful grand master

Leo Echegaray was proven guilty for raping his daughter seven times. What
could have controlled and mastered Leo Echegaray to do this immoral act not just once,
but seven times? Is it his desire to absolutely ruin the future of her daughter? Is it his
passion to totally destroy her self-esteem? Or could it be that he is controlled and
mastered by a very powerful grandmaster?
The principle of 1 Corinthians 6:12 teaches us that sexual immorality has a way of
mastering and controlling someone who uses his body for that purpose. Leo Echegaray
was probably controlled by the powerful grand master of sexual immorality in his body.
Even his own daughter was not spared by this grand master that controls him. It has
complete mastery of him that he had to do it seven times.
Let us heed Pauls advice in 1 Corinthians 6:12. Do not use your body for sexual
immorality, because immorality is not profitable and it will master you.

D.

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SMOKING

Can we use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to prohibit smoking and drinking? 1

Corinthians 6:19-20 does not stand on its own. It is part of an entire section that deals
with sexual immorality (6:12-20). All the other verses of section 6:12-20 was intended
by Paul to prohibit using our body for sexual immorality. If we use 1 Corinthians 6:1920 to prohibit smoking, can the other verses in 6:12-20 also apply to the issue of smoking
and drinking? Can we also say that it is wrong to smoke and drink because we are
becoming one with the tobacco and alcohol that we are taking (as in 6:15-17)?
There is another reason why 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 should not be used to prohibit
smoking and drinking. The entire section of 6:12-20 is intended by Paul to prohibit using
our body for sexual immorality. Using 6:19-20 for smoking or drinking may imply that
smoking and drinking is in the same category with sexual immorality. This is definitely
not true. Thus, it may not be sound to use 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to prohibit smoking and
drinking. It may be wrong to smoke and drink, but other verses should be used to support
this argument and not 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

E.

AN INTRODUCTION TO WORD STUDY

What do you think is the meaning of the statement "In the difficult hour, he will crush the
devourer"?
How does Steve Kuban use the clause in the context of his song?

How does Steve Kuban use the phrase "difficult hour" in his other songs or other
statements?

We will know the meaning of statements not only by connecting them in their context (contextual study), but
also by studying the different words that a writer uses (word study).
The meaning of some statements will even be clearer, not only by consulting the context, but also by studying
some words that the writer uses in a different track (in the case of a CD).

F.

word study in the bible

While contextual study is the most basic step in getting the meaning of a specific verse,
sometimes, word study is needed to make the meaning clearer. Simply stated, word study is the
process of understanding the meaning of words in the context of an authors work, his other
works, or other peoples works during his place and time.
The words, which the biblical writers used is not based on the English language. We are
not interested in studying English words, which the translators used. We are interested in the
original words, which the biblical writers used - Greek for the NT and Hebrew/Aramaic for the
OT.
That is why it is important to know, at least, the most basic information about biblical
languages.6

g.
1.

what words should be studied in detail7

Unclear words that will affect the meaning of the passage

Ex:
A case in point is the word virgin () in 1 Corinthians
7:36.
But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin
daughter.

2.

Words that are repeated or central to the theme of the text

Ex1: The twice repeated word rejoice () in Philippians 1:18
worthy of special attention.

is

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is
proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.

Ex2: The word handling accurately (

- root word is
) is crucial to the meaning of 2 Timothy 2:15.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not
need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

6
7

We will only be studying the Greek alphabet due to time and space constraints.
Fee, New Testament Exegesis, p. 84.

H.

THE GREEK ALPHABET

GREEK GREEK ENGLISH

LETTE
R

NAME

Alpha
Beta

Gamm
a
Delta
Epsilon

Zeta
Eta
Theta
Iota
Kappa
Lambda

Mu
Nu
Xi
Omicron

Pi
Rho
end

Sigma
Tau
Upsilon

Phi
Chi
Psi

EQUIVALENT

A
B
G
D
E
Z
E
Th
I
K
L
M
N
X
O
P
R
S
T
U
Ph
Ch
Ps

THE GREEK VOWELS

,,,, ,,
a, e,e, i, o, u, o

THE GREEK
DIPHTHONGS
A diphthong is a combination of two
vowels that is pronounced as one syllable.
They are as follows:

- translated ai; tie

- translated ei; say
- translated oi; oil
- translated au; cow
- translated eu; few
- translated ou; too
- translated ui; quit
THE BREATHING MARK
The symbol at the top of vowels
and at the top of the second (2nd)
vowel of a diphtong should be
translated with an English h at the start
of the word. Thus, is hen and
is hoi.

Omega

i.

worksheet for 2 timothy 2:15

Paul exhorts Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 to be an approved worker by handling

accurately the word of truth. Based on the context of the passage, what is the meaning of
the word handling accurately ()? What does Paul mean
exactly in his command to handle accurately the word of truth? Do a contextual study of
2Timothy 2:15. Staple your scratch papers together with this worksheet.
1.

SECTION
a.

SECTION LIMITS - Identify the section where the verse is located.

Read the verses, paragraphs, or chapters before and after a certain verse to get the main
section where the verse is located.
WHAT ARE SOME REPEATED IDEAS THAT SURROUND 2 TIMOTHY 2:15?

a.

THE SECTION LIMITS OF 2 TIMOTHY 2:15 is

.

b.

SECTION MAIN IDEA - State the main idea of the section in one or two
sentences.
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2.

UNITS
a.
b.

UNITS OF THE SECTION - Divide the section into different units.

UNIT MAIN POINTS - State the main point of the units in one or two
sentences.

section units

Unit main points

________

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3.

section units

Unit main points

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INTERPRETATION
Interpret the verse in relation to the main idea of the section and the main point of
the unit where it is located.
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