1 Corinthians 6:15

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.

1 Corinthians 6:15 (KJV)

Context

Paul writes to a Corinthian church facing serious moral challenges, including sexual immorality. In the preceding verses, he corrects a popular slogan that the body is only for food and food for the body, insisting instead that the body is for the Lord and the Lord for the body. He grounds this in the resurrection: God raised the Lord and will also raise believers by His power. The body therefore has eternal significance and is not meant for sin.

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are members of Christ. This is not merely a spiritual idea but a real union: believers are joined to Christ in such a way that their physical bodies belong to Him. The rhetorical question exposes the absurdity of taking what belongs to Christ and uniting it with a harlot. Such an act would contradict the believer’s identity and defile the sacred bond they share with the Lord.

The emphatic response, “God forbid,” is a strong Greek expression of rejection, sometimes translated “May it never be!” Paul is not suggesting the possibility but declaring it unthinkable. The force of his words calls believers to recognise the seriousness of sexual sin and its incompatibility with their union with Christ.

Meaning

The verse establishes a profound truth: the believer’s body is not autonomous but belongs to Christ. Paul’s question assumes the Corinthians already know this, yet their behaviour shows they have forgotten it. The connection between Christ and the believer is so intimate that sin against the body becomes sin against Christ Himself.

Paul’s argument continues in the next verse, where he quotes Genesis 2:24 to show that sexual union creates a unique one-flesh bond. This supports his warning by revealing why the act he forbids is so damaging: it joins Christ’s members to a harlot in a union that is real and profound.

Application

This verse calls believers to live in a way that honours their union with Christ. Since the body belongs to Him, sexual purity is not merely a rule but a response to identity. Christians are urged to flee sexual immorality and to make choices that reflect their position as members of Christ.

The verse also reminds the church of its corporate responsibility. Because believers together form the body of Christ, each person’s conduct affects the whole. Maintaining purity is therefore both a personal duty and a way of protecting the integrity of the church.

Reflection

Consider what it means that your body is a member of Christ. This truth changes how you view daily choices, including what you do with your eyes, your words, and your body. The question Paul asks is not abstract; it challenges every believer to examine whether their actions match their identity. The answer to such a question is not hesitation but the same firm rejection Paul voices: God forbid.