1 Corinthians 6:13

King James Version (KJV)

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Meats for the belly - I suppose that κοιλια means the animal appetite, or propensity to food, etc., and we may conceive the apostle to reason thus: I acknowledge that God has provided different kinds of aliments for the appetite of man, and among others those which are generally offered to idols; and he has adapted the appetite to these aliments, and the aliments to the appetite: but God shall destroy both it and them; none of these is eternal; all these lower appetites and sensations will be destroyed by death, and have no existence in the resurrection body; and the earth and its productions shall be burnt up.

Now the body is not for fornication - Though God made an appetite for food, and provided food for that appetite, yet he has not made the body for any uncleanness, nor indulgence in sensuality; but he has made it for Christ; and Christ was provided to be a sacrifice for this body as well as for the soul, by taking our nature upon him; so that now, as human beings, we have an intimate relationship to the Lord; and our bodies are made not only for his service, but to be his temples.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Meats for the belly … - This has every appearance of being an adage or proverb. Its meaning is plain. “God has made us with appetites for food; and he has made food adapted to such appetites, and it is right, therefore, to indulge in luxurious living.” The word “belly” here κοιλία koiliadenotes the “stomach;” and the argument is, that as God had created the natural appetite for food, and had created food, it was right to indulge in eating and drinking to any extent which the appetite demanded. The word “meats” here βρώματα brōmatadoes not denote animal food particularly, or flesh, but “any kind” of food. This was the sense of the English word formerly. Matthew 3:4; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 9:10; Matthew 10:10; Matthew 14:9, etc.

But God shall destroy - This is the reply of Paul to the argument. This reply is, that as both are so soon to be destroyed, they were unworthy of the care which was bestowed on them, and that attention should be directed to better things. It is unworthy the immortal mind to spend its time and thought in making provision for the body which is soon to perish. And especially a man should be willing to abandon indulgences in these things when they tended to injure the mind, and to destroy the soul. It is unworthy a mind that is to live forever, thus to be anxious about that which is so soon to be destroyed in the grave We may observe here:

(1) This is the great rule of the mass of the world. The pampering of the appetites is the great purpose for which they live, and the only purpose.

(2) it is folly. The body will soon be in the grave; the soul in eternity. How low and grovelling is the passion which leads the immortal mind always to anxiety about what the body shall eat and drink!

(3) people should act from higher motives. They should be thankful for appetites for food; and that God provides for the needs of the body; and should eat to obtain strength to serve him, and to discharge the duties of life. Man often degrades himself below - far below - the brutes in this thing. they never pamper their appetites, or “create artificial” appetites. Man, in death, sinks to the same level; and all the record of his life is, that “he lived to eat and drink, and died as the brute dieth.” How low human nature has fallen! How sunken is the condition of man!

Now the body is not … - “But δέ dethe body is not designed for licentiousness, but to be devoted to the Lord.” The remainder of this chapter is occupied with an argument against indulgence in licentiousness - a crime to which the Corinthians were particularly exposed. See the Introduction to this Epistle. It cannot be supposed that any members of the church would indulge in this vice, or would vindicate it; but it was certain:

(1)That it was the sin to which they were particularly exposed;

(2)That they were in the midst of a people who did both practice and vindicate it; compare Revelation 2:14-15.

Hence, the apostle furnished them with arguments against it, as well to guard them from temptation, as to enable them to meet those who did defend it, and also to settle the morality of the question on an immovable foundation. The first argument is here stated, that the body of man was designed by its Maker to be devoted to him, and should be consecrated to the purposes of a pure and holy life. We are, therefore, bound to devote our animal as well as our rational powers to the service of the Lord alone.

And the Lord for the body - “The Lord is in an important sense for the body, that is, he acts, and plans, and provides for it. He sustains and keeps it; and he is making provision for its immortal purity and happiness in heaven. It is not right, therefore, to take the body, which is nourished by the kind and constant agency of a holy God, and to devote it to purposes of pollution.” That there is a reference in this phrase to the resurrection, is apparent from the following verse. And as God will exert his mighty power in raising up the body, and will make it glorious, it ought not to be prostituted to purposes of licentiousness.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, All things are lawful for me. This dangerous conceit St. Paul opposes. There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely a Christian would never put himself into the power of any bodily appetite. The body is for the Lord; is to be an instrument of righteousness to holiness, therefore is never to be made an instrument of sin. It is an honour to the body, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; and it will be an honour to our bodies, that they will be raised. The hope of a resurrection to glory, should keep Christians from dishonouring their bodies by fleshly lusts. And if the soul be united to Christ by faith, the whole man is become a member of his spiritual body. Other vices may be conquered in fight; that here cautioned against, only by flight. And vast multitudes are cut off by this vice in its various forms and consequences. Its effects fall not only directly upon the body, but often upon the mind. Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

13. Meats. Gr. br?mata, “foods,” any kind of food, not necessarily flesh food, though this may be included. When the KJV was first published, the English word “meat” had this same meaning, “food,” and it is frequently used in this way in Scripture (see Gen. 1:29, 30; Ps. 42:3; Eze. 47:12; Dan. 4:12; Hab. 3:17; Matt. 9:10; 14:9; Luke 14:10; 1 Cor. 8:10; etc.). God provides food for man’s use, and He made man’s stomach for the digestion of food. Man has the right to satisfy his appetite for food. However, although God has given man the appetite for food and made provision for it to be satisfied, the Christian is not at liberty to eat whatever his appetite may desire, irrespective of quantity and quality. He is under obligation to remember that he is purchased by the blood of Christ, and it is his duty to keep his body in the best possible condition (see 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9; CH 41).

Destroy. Literally, “bring to nought.” Believers will not give their chief consideration to that which is to be destroyed, but will prepare themselves for eternal life by the cultivation of a character that will meet with the approval of God. Temperance will be practiced by those who are anxious to have clear minds and healthy bodies. Unlimited indulgence in eating, even of the best kinds of food, prevents one from enjoying good health, and also interferes with the understanding and appreciation of spiritual truth. He who is aware of the joy of communion with God will not permit his mental and spiritual faculties to be dulled by gluttonous gratification of the appetite for food (cf. ch. 9:27). Men ought to be thankful for the provision made by God to supply the body’s needs for food. Hence, they should eat intelligently, in order to obtain strength to serve the Lord efficiently and to discharge their duties in this world.

Not for fornication. Although the stomach is designed and intended to be used for the digestion of food, the body is not designed for licentiousness. It is to be devoted to the Lord’s service. The remaining portion of this chapter consists of an argument against immorality?an evil to which the Corinthians were specially exposed. No doubt the believers were conscious of the wickedness of licentiousness, but they lived among people who not only practiced it but considered it a part of their normal living (cf. Num. 25:1-8; Rev. 2:14). Hence the Scriptures present strong arguments against that vice. This instruction would, if heeded, (1) guard them against temptation, (2) enable them to oppose effectively those who defended it, and (3) settle the morality of the problem on an immovable basis. The argument presented in this epistle is as follows: Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), for His glory (see 1 Cor. 6:20; Rev. 4:11), to reflect the divine image (see Eph. 4:13; EW 71), and to demonstrate God’s power (see 1 Peter 2:9; 4:14); therefore the Christian is under obligation to preserve his body undefiled, that it may be a fitting offering to present to the Lord (see Rom. 12:1). Apparently there were those who argued that there is a parallel between the use of food by the stomach and the use of the body for sensual indulgence. However, although the stomach is intended by God for taking care of food, and must have a regular supply in order to function, the body was not made for the gratification of sensual desires, but for the Lord (see 1 Cor. 6:15; Eph. 5:23, 29, 30). This is Paul’s first of six arguments against impurity (see on 1 Cor. 6:14, 15, 18, 19).

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

13. Meats. Gr. brÃ…Âmata, “foods,” any kind of food, not necessarily flesh food, though this may be included. When the KJV was first published, the English word “meat” had this same meaning, “food,” and it is frequently used in this way in Scripture (see Gen. 1:29, 30; Ps. 42:3; Eze. 47:12; Dan. 4:12; Hab. 3:17; Matt. 9:10; 14:9; Luke 14:10; 1 Cor. 8:10; etc.). God provides food for man’s use, and He made man’s stomach for the digestion of food. Man has the right to satisfy his appetite for food. However, although God has given man the appetite for food and made provision for it to be satisfied, the Christian is not at liberty to eat whatever his appetite may desire, irrespective of quantity and quality. He is under obligation to remember that he is purchased by the blood of Christ, and it is his duty to keep his body in the best possible condition (see 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9; CH 41).

Not for fornication. Although the stomach is designed and intended to be used for the digestion of food, the body is not designed for licentiousness. It is to be devoted to the Lord’s service. The remaining portion of this chapter consists of an argument against immoralityÃ¢â‚¬â€an evil to which the Corinthians were specially exposed. No doubt the believers were conscious of the wickedness of licentiousness, but they lived among people who not only practiced it but considered it a part of their normal living (cf. Num. 25:1-8; Rev. 2:14). Hence the Scriptures present strong arguments against that vice. This instruction would, if heeded, (1) guard them against temptation, (2) enable them to oppose effectively those who defended it, and (3) settle the morality of the problem on an immovable basis. The argument presented in this epistle is as follows: Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), for His glory (see 1 Cor. 6:20; Rev. 4:11), to reflect the divine image (see Eph. 4:13; EW 71), and to demonstrate God’s power (see 1 Peter 2:9; 4:14); therefore the Christian is under obligation to preserve his body undefiled, that it may be a fitting offering to present to the Lord (see Rom. 12:1). Apparently there were those who argued that there is a parallel between the use of food by the stomach and the use of the body for sensual indulgence. However, although the stomach is intended by God for taking care of food, and must have a regular supply in order to function, the body was not made for the gratification of sensual desires, but for the Lord (see 1 Cor. 6:15; Eph. 5:23, 29, 30). This is Paul’s first of six arguments against impurity (see on 1 Cor. 6:14, 15, 18, 19).

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Ellen G. White
Counsels on Health, 41

[The Review and Herald, December 1, 1896.]

Life is a gift of God. Our bodies have been given us to use in God's service, and He desires that we shall care for and appreciate them. We are possessed of physical as well as mental faculties. Our impulses and passions have their seat in the body, and therefore we must do nothing that would defile this entrusted possession. Our bodies must be kept in the best possible condition physically, and under the most spiritual influences, in order that we may make the best use of our talents. Read 1 Corinthians 6:13. CH 41.1

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Ellen G. White
Counsels on Health, 586

No physician is secure who stands in his own strength. Physicians must not enter upon their work with careless, irreverent thoughts. Moment by moment they are to trust in Him who gave His life for fallen humanity and who respects His purchased inheritance. Thus doing, they will rightly regard the purchase of the blood of Christ. They will gird on every piece of the heavenly armor, that they may be protected from the assaults of the enemy. This is a safeguard against sin which the physician must avail himself of if he would be successful in his work. CH 586.1

Our bodies belong to God. He paid the price of redemption for the body as well as the soul. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. “The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” Verse 13. The Creator watches over the human machinery, keeping it in motion. Were it not for His constant care, the pulse would not beat, the action of the heart would cease, the brain would no longer act its part. CH 586.2

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Ellen G. White
Medical Ministry, 291

Our bodies belong to God. He paid the price of redemption for the body as well as for the soul. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” “The body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” The Creator watches over the human machinery, keeping it in motion. Were it not for His constant care, the pulse would not beat, the action of the heart would cease, the brain would no longer act its part. MM 291.1

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1 Corinthians 6:13