For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:20KJV
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1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 6:20 mean?

1 Corinthians 6:20 says that believers have been bought at a high cost, so they should honor God with both their bodies and their spirits, since both belong to God. The verse emphasizes that Christians are not their own, but belong to God because of what He has done for them.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing problems with how some were living, especially regarding sexual morality. He reminds them that their whole selves—body and spirit—are God’s property because of the “price” paid for them, which refers to Jesus’ sacrificial death. Paul’s point is that their daily lives, including physical actions, should reflect this new belonging.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 6:20

  • ἠγοράσθητε (ēgorásthēte, “bought”): This word is often used in the context of purchasing slaves or property. Paul uses it to stress that believers now belong to God because He has paid for them.
  • τιμῆς (timēs, “price”): This word means a significant value or cost. The verse highlights that the cost was not cheap or trivial, underscoring the seriousness of what God has done.
  • δοξάσατε (doxásate, “glorify”): This word means to honor or bring glory to someone. Paul is urging believers to show God’s greatness through how they live in both body and spirit.
  • σώματι (sōmati, “body”) and πνεύματι (pneúmati, “spirit”): Paul specifically mentions both body and spirit to make clear that honoring God is not just a spiritual idea but involves physical actions and choices as well.

Why 1 Corinthians 6:20 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that faith is only about inward beliefs; Paul insists that honoring God involves both physical actions and spiritual attitudes.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage where Paul is correcting misunderstandings about freedom and morality, showing that Christian freedom comes with the responsibility to honor God.
  • By using the language of being “bought with a price,” Paul emphasizes the depth of God’s commitment to believers and the seriousness of their response.

Where else these words appear

“therefore” Greek G1211 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
  • Luke 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
  • Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

“bought” Greek G59 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
  • Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
  • John 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.

“price” Greek G5092 · used in 42 verses

  • Matthew 27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
  • Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
  • Hebrews 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

“glorify” Greek G1392 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
  • John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
  • Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.