Teaching Christianity
does not diminish the greatness of justice.
36. In any case, when the apostle was talking about secular judgments and lawsuits (what kind, to be sure, if not ones to do with money?), he said, Does any of you dare, when he has a case against another, to seek a judgment from the wicked, and not have recourse to the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is being judged by you, are you unfit to pass judgment on trifling matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels, let alone secular matters? If therefore you have secular lawsuits, set those who are contemptible in the Church, yes set them to judge them. I say it to your shame. So, is there really nobody among you wise enough to be able to judge between his brothers? But brother goes for judgment against brother, and this before unbelievers. It is already indeed a serious fault that you have lawsuits among yourselves at all. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? You, though, act unjustly and cheat, and your own brothers at that. Or do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? (1 Cor 6:1–9).
Why is it that the apostle is waxing so indignant, so censorious, so vehemently reproachful, so threatening? Why is it that he shows the intensity of his feelings by such frequent and such harsh changes of tone? Why is it, finally, that he speaks so grandly about minimal matters? Did secular lawsuits merit such treatment from him? Surely not. But he is taking this line on account of justice, of charity, of mutual respect, which nobody of sound and sober mind will doubt are great things, however trifling and minimal the matters they are concerned with.
37. Certainly, if we were advising people how they should conduct their secular business, whether on their own account or that of their clients, before ecclesiastical judges, we would rightly advise them to present it calmly, as a minor