What does it mean that the saints will judge the world (1 Corinthians 6:2)?

In 1 Corinthians 6:2, Paul asks the church, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” (ESV). This may have come as a surprise to the Corinthians reading Paul’s letter, and it may come as a surprise to us, but the truth is that the saints will judge the world. In fact, in the next verse, the saints will even “judge angels” (1 Corinthians 6:3)!

Before we look at the context and meaning of Paul’s rhetorical question, let’s understand the meaning of two key words. “Saints,” or hagioi in the Greek, are those who are holy or sacred or set apart. In 1 Corinthians 6:2 the word refers to Christians. Believers are called “saints” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:2). The Greek word for “will judge” in this passage is krinousin, which can also be translated as “will decree” or “will govern.” The word is used in the Bible to refer to everything from self-examination to official court proceedings to God’s ultimate judgment.

In the context of 1 Corinthians 6:2, Paul is making a point about the behavior of some Corinthian Christians who were taking legal action against fellow Christians—believers were suing other believers in secular courts (verse 6). Paul is dismayed and seeks to correct their behavior: “When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! . . . If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?” (1 Corinthians 6:1, 4–5, NLT). The church should be able to handle such matters internally.

Paul gives a good reason why believers should be able to handle mundane, earthly matters on their own: they are one day going to judge the world! Since Christians will participate in some way in the future judgment of the world, why should they take their current earthly disputes before the world to judge?

Paul does not explain in what way the saints will judge the world, but a similar truth is hinted at in some other passages. For example, Jesus tells His disciples that, in the kingdom, they will “sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:30; see also Matthew 19:28). Jesus promises all believers that “to the one who is victorious . . . I will give authority over the nations—that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father” (cf. Revelation 3:21).

Somehow, in some way, the redeemed will participate with God in the future judgment of mankind, and even of angels. Commentator Albert Barnes suggests that “Christians shall be exalted to the right hand of the Judge, and shall encompass his throne; . . . they shall assent to, and approve of his judgment, . . . they shall be elevated to a post of honor and favor, as if they were associated with him in the Judgment. They shall then be regarded as his friends, and express their approbation . . . of the condemnation of the wicked” (Notes on the Bible, 1 Corinthians 6:2, 1834).

Believers will indeed judge the world. In view of the weight of the eternal judgment we will participate in, surely we are qualified to determine the comparatively petty, insignificant matters of this world.