Question 1

What does Paul assume his readers already “know,” and how does he use that shared knowledge in verses 15–16?

Accepted Answer

Paul frames his argument with repeated “don’t you know” questions, implying these ideas were already part of their instruction. He assumes they know (1) their bodies are “members of Christ,” and (2) sexual joining makes “one body/one flesh.” He uses these as premises, not as conclusions. The shock question in v.15 (“Will I then take…?”) depends on the first premise, and the explanation in v.16 (“he who is joined…is one body”) depends on the second. The rhetorical style shows he’s correcting behavior by reminding them of things they should already accept.

Question 2

In verse 15, what is the force of the phrase “members of Christ,” and what contrast does Paul set up with it?

Accepted Answer

“Members of Christ” links believers’ physical bodies to Christ’s own body-language: what happens in and through their bodies matters in relation to Christ. Paul immediately contrasts that belonging with the idea of making those same “members” into “members of a prostitute.” The contrast is not simply between “good people” and “bad people,” but between two incompatible attachments: belonging to Christ versus being joined sexually to a prostitute. Paul’s “Certainly not!” shows he treats the second attachment as unthinkable precisely because the first attachment is already true.

Question 3

How does Paul argue in verse 16 that sex involves more than a private physical act?

Accepted Answer

Paul says the person joined to a prostitute becomes “one body” with her, then supports that claim with a Scripture citation: “The two will become one flesh.” His logic treats sexual union as creating a genuine bodily bond, not merely a transaction or momentary pleasure. The use of “one” language (one body/one flesh) suggests an act with unifying significance. In context, that significance is exactly why prostitution conflicts with belonging to Christ: sex forms a kind of union, and Paul refuses the idea that such union can be treated as morally neutral.

Question 4

What contrast is Paul drawing between “one flesh” (v.16) and “one spirit” (v.17)?

Accepted Answer

Paul places two kinds of “oneness” side by side. “One flesh” describes the bodily union created by sexual joining, illustrated with Genesis language about two becoming one. “One spirit” describes the believer’s union with the Lord. The contrast does not suggest the body is irrelevant; it highlights that believers already have a defining union with Christ, and that sexual union forms another real bond. Paul’s point is that these bonds are not compatible in this case: joining to a prostitute creates a union that contradicts the prior union with the Lord.

Question 5

Why is prostitution Paul’s chosen example here, based on what the text itself emphasizes?

Accepted Answer

In the passage, prostitution functions as a vivid case of sexual joining that makes Paul’s union-based logic unavoidable. If bodies are “members of Christ,” then a sexual act is not only personal; it implicates what belongs to Christ. Prostitution also illustrates the claim that sex creates “one body/one flesh” even when it is transactional, because Paul explicitly applies the “joined…one body” statement to that setting. The example forces the question: if sexual union really unites bodies, what happens when someone who belongs to Christ forms that union with a prostitute?

Question 6

What role does the repeated word “one” play across verses 16–17 in Paul’s reasoning?

Accepted Answer

The repeated “one” language carries the argument’s core idea: union. In v.16, sex makes “one body” and “one flesh,” emphasizing a real, unifying bond. In v.17, union with the Lord makes “one spirit,” emphasizing an even deeper defining relationship. Paul is not piling up “one” words for style; he’s comparing kinds of unity to show incompatibility. If a believer is already united to Christ, forming a second “one-ness” through prostitution is not a minor mismatch but a contradiction in loyalties and identities.

Question 7

How do verses 15–17 fit within the surrounding context of 1 Corinthians 6:12–20?

Accepted Answer

Just before, Paul disputes the idea that bodily actions are morally neutral and insists the body is “for the Lord” and will be raised (6:13–14). Verses 15–17 then supply the relational logic: believers belong to Christ bodily, and sex forms a real union, so prostitution cannot be treated as harmless. Immediately after, Paul continues by warning against sexual immorality and adding further reasons tied to the body’s sacred belonging and being “bought” (6:18–20). So 15–17 is a central bridge: it connects bodily theology to sexual ethics by focusing on union.

1 Corinthians 6:15-17

Scripture