Judging?

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.
1Corinthians 4:5

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Corinthians 6:2


Are these verses contradicting each other? How are Christians supposed to execute them?
Thanks for all explanations!

I see no contradiction.

Judgment right or wrong

Believers are warned against judging others unfairly or unrighteously, but Jesus commends “right judgment”

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

When Jesus said not to judge others, He did not mean that no one can identify sin for what it is, based on God’s definition of sin

When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we condemn ourselves (Romans 2:1).

Christians are often accused of “judging” or intolerance when they speak out against sin.

Telling a truth that opposes sin has done no wrong.

1 Corinthians 5:
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

^^^The Apostle Paul makes a judgment here ^^^

Is he wrong? Will/should he be punished for his judgment? I say no...

Reading all of the Word we discover we are never to judge anyone to damnation in this age for judgment has not been handed over to us in this age. Until that glorious day of the Lord we are to share and spread the mercy we have received, otherwise we are nothing like our Savior, Jesus, Yeshua. It is not hard to understand, especially when love is include d and mercy. God bless you .

In 1Cor.4, Paul is instructing the congregation not to go beyond what is written in judging others. To be humble. In 1Cor.6, judgment, discipline, was for the offending persons welfare.

We all need God's mercy. We all should be humble and want the best for each other.

The bible has a lot to say about judging........we are to judge ALL things by the word of GOD......and the above is two different subjects.....and consider who is being addressed.....a spiritually immature, carnal church that had some 15 errors.....

1 Corinthians 6:1-2 ( KJV ):

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"

1 Corinthians 4: 1-5 ( KJV ):

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgement: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."


These verses do not contradict each other but rather there is difference in what is being judged. 1 Corinthians 6 seems to be speaking about conflict between another and how they should bring it to the saints instead of going to court. 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5 seems to imply those things that are more hidden or of the heart. Paul says he does not even judge himself.

Yea its talking bout going to court.

In a common scenario, when husbands and wives cant get along and so they go to court and fight each other to get a divorce. But that means that they dont have a chance to prove themselves faithful to each other. They let an outside judge their marriage. And also have to pay court costs, but anyway. They dont let the Lord judge them or judge themselves on the matters of the heart and sort it out. Just as an example.

Thanks all for making me understand the difference.
Just want to reconfirm if I'm getting this right: in 1Corinthians 4 we are told not to judge ourselves since those are the hidden things of heart?

But doesn't it say in 1Corinthians 11:32
For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

Once again thank you all in advance!

I think what Paul may be getting at in 1 Corinthians 4 is that over self examination. David even prays in Psalm 139:23-24: " Search me , O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ( KJV ). There are sins we commit and we reconize it right away. And then there may be sins we don't know about, but God knows because he knows the heart and motives and all. I am not a bible scholar but I get that impression from 1 Corinthians 4 and it is a good chapter to look into more.

In 1Cor.4, Paul is instructing the congregation not to judge men above what is written of men in scripture. In other words, don't look at him or Apollos as though they're infallible,

I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written 1Cor.4:6

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos 1Cor.1:12

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 1Cor.3:4


It isn't that we shouldn't respect those in authority, but we need to remember what people have was given to them by God,

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 1Cor.4:7

Amen ! He does say to EXAMINE OURSELVES DAILY!..We have to commune with God continually to guard against any sin of the heart,mind and flesh!🙏