Paul's question starts with "Dare," as if to say: how could you? Barnes explains that "the unjust" means the pagan judges, unbelievers, since the word "stands opposed to the saints." It describes the judges as outside the faith, not necessarily as corrupt. Paul's real question is why believers would not settle their disputes among themselves. Barnes puts it this way: "Can you not settle your differences among yourselves as Christians, by leaving the cause to your brethren, as arbitrators, instead of going before pagan magistrates?"

Paul answers with more questions. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" and "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). He tells them to set even the "least esteemed in the church" to judge such matters (1 Corinthians 6:4), and asks, "Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?" (1 Corinthians 6:5). Then he names the deeper problem: "there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong?" (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Acts records that when Gallio "was the deputy of Achaia," Paul himself was brought before his "judgment seat" at Corinth (Acts 18:12). Barnes and Gill both note that the Jews would not bring their own cases before Gentile courts; Barnes writes, "The Jews would not allow any of their causes to be brought before the Gentile courts." The Greek word for "Dare" is tolmao, to dare or presume. "The unjust" is adikon, the unrighteous, set against hagion, "the saints."

Paul's question flows from what believers are. God has made them "saints," and one day "the saints shall judge the world" (1 Corinthians 6:2). It made no sense for people with that calling to ask unbelievers to settle their family quarrels. Matthew Henry gives the simplest reason: "Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren."

Paul then goes beyond procedure to the heart. Going to law against a brother at all was itself a fault: "there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another" (1 Corinthians 6:7). Barnes says that rather than dishonor religion by such a suit, "they ought to be willing to take wrong, and to suffer any personal and private injustice." The gospel that made them brothers was meant to change how they handled being wronged.