In 1 Corinthians 6:1–20 Paul discusses the third area in which he wants the Corinthians to repent before he visits them (see again 1 Corinthians 4:21).

The discussion of this third area flows quite naturally from the list of unrighteous people who will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). First on this list was sexual immorality, and this is the third great sin that Paul warns the church to repent of. The phrase sexual immorality (porneia) refers to all forms of sexual sin, including sex outside of marriage, adultery, prostitution, and homosexuality.

Paul introduces this discussion by quoting two popular sayings. These sayings were clearly being used by the Corinthians to justify their immorality.

The first saying, All things are lawful for me, must have been well-known in the church, since Paul refers to it again in 1 Corinthians 10:23. It is possible that this saying came from Paul himself, and that he used it to express the believer’s freedom in Christ. In Christ we are no longer bound by the Mosaic ceremonial law.

Paul does not deny the truth of this saying but he shows that it is only true in a qualified sense. If it was absolutely true, it would mean that the believer is free to do anything, even the sins listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. This is not the case, since not all things are helpful (or profitable), and there are things that enslave us. Paul’s last point suggests that there were cases of sexual addiction in the Corinthian church.