Paul’s apocalyptic ethics rested upon the simple logic that eschatology informs and patterns present discipleship. An illustrative example of this is seen in 1 Corinthians 6. In light of lawsuits happening between believers, Paul decries, 

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge theworld? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matterspertaining to this life! (vv. 1–3) 

The judgment of the world and of the angels accords with Paul’s Jewish apocalyptic expectations (cf. Dan. 7:22; 1 Enoch 51:1ff.; 55:4; 61:8; 93:95:3; 4 Ezra 7:32ff.). In line with the prophetic tradition—e.g., “In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below” (Isa. 24:21, NIV; cf. Ps. 82:1; Isa. 34:5; Zech. 14:9)—the Messiah is given authority over the heavens and earth as the agent of God to execute such judgment. The saints in turn will be “co-heirs with the Messiah” (Rom. 8:17, ISV), and thus they will cooperate in governance and administration of the new heavens and new earth. 

Believers ought to evaluate everything and live out their lives in such light. To unbelievers wealth and position are of utmost importance in this age. To believers they should be “trivial” (Gk.elachistos), “to being considered of very little importance,” in light of the coming glory. Our eschatological destiny ought to form and pattern our thinking and behavior in this age. If we will govern the world to come, “how much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” Thus Paul concludes, “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:7). Paul urges self-restraint (even self-sacrificial injustice!) in light of the exceeding glory of the future reward. The clamorings of thisage are insignificant relative to the glories of the age to come. - John P. Harrigan