Big Idea: Spiritual life cannot be separated from the material. Rather than being spiritually irrelevant, the body is the sphere of worship—a place for God’s presence to be revealed. Christian identity and Christian lifestyle are interlocked.

Understanding the Text

Following his vice list in 6:9–10 and getting ready for his teaching on marriage in chapter 7, Paul now revisits and broadens his discussion on sexual immorality from chapter 5. Whereas chapter 5 and 6:1–11 dealt with particular and somewhat narrow issues, these last verses of chapter 6 give a broader theological statement on Christian lifestyle using the practices at Corinthian dinner parties as a launching pad. The way Christ followers use their bodies and their material situations reflects their relationship to Christ. Chri…