1 Corinthians 6:20 Meaning: Your Body, Bought With a Price
for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.
for ye were bought with a price; glorify, then, God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
for ye have been bought with a price: glorify now then God in your body.
Meaning in one sentence
What does 1 Corinthians 6:20 mean? Learn why Paul says you were bought with a price and how that changes the way you use your body to glorify God.
Context
Paul writes to a church in Corinth, a city where sexual immorality was common and even tolerated. In chapter 6, he confronts the idea that what we do with our bodies doesn’t matter. He argues that the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and that our bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit. This verse is the climax of that argument: because Christ purchased us with His own blood, we are not our own. Therefore, every part of us, body and spirit, should bring glory to God. Paul is not just teaching doctrine; he is calling for a whole-life response rooted in the reality of redemption.
Key Words
Two words carry the weight of this verse. The first is bought (ēgorasthēte). In Paul’s world, buying a slave meant that person now belonged to someone else. But here, the purchase price is not silver or gold, it is Christ’s own life. You were bought out of the slave market of sin and made God’s treasured possession.
The second word is price (timēs), which means the value or honor placed on something. The price paid for you is the precious blood of Jesus, showing your immense worth to God.
Finally, glorify (doxasate) means to honor, magnify, and make much of someone. So to glorify God in your body is to live in a way that shows His worth, not just in your inner thoughts but in your physical actions, what you do with your hands, your eyes, your whole self. This is not a burden; it is the joyful response to being so dearly loved.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as central to understanding the body’s place in worship. The Reformers, like Calvin, emphasized that the body is subject to God no less than the soul, and that outward profession before men matters. Matthew Henry saw the verse as connecting the early church’s dispute about foods with the call to flee sexual immorality. Some early manuscripts omit the phrase “and in your spirit, which are God’s,” leading some to focus solely on the body. Yet even among those who include it, the point is that we belong to God entirely. The same gospel that saves us also claims our physical lives.
A common misunderstanding
Some read “bought with a price” as simply a reminder of salvation, a theological fact with no practical edge. In fact, Paul uses this phrase to ground a direct command: because you were bought, you must glorify God in your body. The purchase is not just a past event to be grateful for; it is the basis for a present, bodily obedience. The price Christ paid gives Him full claim over your life.
Living This Out
This week, pay attention to the moments when you treat your body as if it belongs only to you. When you choose what to watch, what to eat, or how to rest, remember that you were bought. Ask yourself: does this choice honor the One who paid for me?
Your body is not a project to perfect or a problem to escape. It is a vessel for showing God’s glory. That might mean choosing purity, caring for your health, or simply offering your tired body to God at the end of the day. He bought it; He can use it.
Main takeaway: Because Christ purchased you with His own life, your whole self, body and spirit, is made to bring glory to God.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
You belong to Jesus because He loves you so much. That means your whole self, your arms, your legs, your voice, can show His love to others. When you use your body to be kind, you are glorifying God.
For ages 9, 12
Paul tells us that we were bought with a price, the life of Jesus. That means we don’t get to do whatever we want with our bodies. Instead, we get to use them in ways that honor God, like choosing what’s pure, helping others, and taking care of ourselves. When you say no to something wrong and yes to what’s good, you are glorifying God with your body.
Questions People Ask
What does 'bought with a price' mean in 1 Corinthians 6:20?
It means that Christians were purchased from slavery to sin by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The 'price' is His precious blood. This gives God full ownership over our lives, including our bodies.
Does this verse mean our bodies are evil or unimportant?
No, the opposite. Paul argues that because our bodies belong to God and are temples of the Holy Spirit, they are sacred. We honor God not by escaping the body but by using it for His glory.
Why does Paul focus on the body here?
The Corinthians faced sexual temptation and some thought the body didn't matter for spiritual life. Paul corrects this by showing that what we do with our bodies affects our relationship with God. The body is not disposable; it is bought by Christ and destined for resurrection.
Is 'and in your spirit, which are God's' original?
Many early and reliable manuscripts do not include this phrase. Most scholars see it as a later addition. However, the main point of the verse remains unchanged: we are to glorify God with our bodies, because we belong to Him entirely.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study