1 Corinthians 6:13
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 6:13
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 6 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of judgment, truth, faith. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 6:13
13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Analysis
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Another Corinthian slogan: ta brōmata tē koilia kai hē koilia tois brōmasin (τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν)—'foods for the stomach, the stomach for foods.' They argued: bodily functions are morally neutral, so eat what you want (cf. Mark 7:19). Paul agrees—partially. Yes, God shall destroy both (ho theos kai tautēn kai tauta katargēsei, ὁ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει): food and digestive systems are temporary, part of the perishing order.
But then the contrast: Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. Sōma (σῶμα, 'body') ≠ koilia (κοιλία, 'belly'). The body is the whole person, destined for resurrection; the belly is temporary appetite. Sexual immorality (porneia, πορνεία) isn't like food—it violates the body's telos (purpose). The body exists for the Lord (tō kyriō, τῷ κυρίῳ), and reciprocally, the Lord for the body—He's redeeming, not discarding, it.
Historical Context
Greek dualism (Plato, Gnosticism) despised the body as inferior to the soul, leading to two errors: asceticism (punish the body) or libertinism (indulge it, since it's irrelevant). Corinthians leaned libertine, treating physical acts as spiritually neutral. Paul's Hebrew theology insists: embodiment matters. God created bodies good (Genesis 1-2), incarnated in a body (John 1:14), and promises bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15). Therefore, what you do with your body matters eternally.
Reflection
- What false dualities (body vs. soul, secular vs. sacred) cause you to treat bodily choices as morally insignificant?
- How does the promise of bodily resurrection (v. 14) elevate the importance of sexual purity and physical stewardship now?
- In what ways do you live as if your body belongs to you rather than to the Lord?
Word Studies
- Lord: Κύριος (Kurios) G2962 - Lord, Master
Cross-References
- References God: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:15, 6:19, Romans 12:1, 14:17
- Parallel theme: Matthew 15:17, Romans 6:12, Ephesians 5:23