What problem did the Corinthians have with lawsuits in pagan courts?
The believers in Corinth were going before pagan courts and suing one another. Paul had to correct them for this practice, listing it among the congregation's many problems. They were weak, carnal, fleshly believers, and the letter of 1 Corinthians was written to correct such issues in the idolatrous city.
Les explains that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to a congregation in the wicked, immoral, pagan, idolatrous city of Corinth, not so much to commend them but to correct them. They had many problems, including picking personalities and following different leaders. Among those problems, they were going to the pagan courts and suing each other out there in the pagan courts. So Paul had to correct them on that basis, because the whole theme of 1 Corinthians is correcting problems in a weak, carnal, fleshly congregation of believers.
More Questions
Why did Paul correct the Corinthians about going to court?
Another problem Paul corrected in Corinth was that believers were going to pagan courts and suing each other.