In the same breath, Paul goes on to discuss a second result of the Corinthians’ arrogance, a second area in which repentance is needed. This concerns the handling of conflict in the church.  The Corinthian believers are going so far as to drag each other to court!

This problem is connected to the first problem (1 Corinthians 5:1–13). Both problems point to the Corinthian church’s failure to judge internal matters with wisdom. Paul is clearly surprised at the fact that, while the Corinthians do not condemn serious sin in their midst, they are prosecuting each other over personal grievances.

Notice how Paul refers to the city magistrates as the unrighteous. This is not because their judgments are necessarily wrong, but because, being unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:6), they are unrighteous in God’s sight. They are contrasted with saints (those who have been set apart by God). In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 Paul will give concrete examples of the behaviour of the unrighteous.