VV. 10:33-11:1. “even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 11:1. Become imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” In chap. 9 the apostle had developed at length the example of self-denial, which he was constantl... [ Continue Reading ]
“Now I praise you, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” The _now_ is progressive; it is the transition to the new subject. Edwards takes it adversatively (in contrast to the expression _imitators of me_): “ _But_, if you do not imitate me in every... [ Continue Reading ]
VII. THE DEMEANOUR OF WOMEN IN PUBLIC WORSHIP. CHAP. 11:2-16. The apostle has just treated a series of subjects belonging to the domain of the Church's moral life, especially in connection with Christian liberty (chaps. 6-10). He now passes to various subjects relating to _public worship_, beginnin... [ Continue Reading ]
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is the Christ; and the man is [the] head of the woman; and God [the] head of the Christ.” The δέ is adversative: _but;_ Paul proceeds to a point to which the eulogy he has just passed does not apply. One is tempted to ask, as he reads the follo... [ Continue Reading ]
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a s... [ Continue Reading ]
But precisely because the woman is in a position contrasted with that of the man, in so far as she has _here below_ a visible head, she would dishonour this head by affecting a costume which would be a symbol of independence. And since the woman does not naturally belong to public life, if it happen... [ Continue Reading ]
To impress the revolting character of such a course, the apostle supposes it pushed to extremity. There is something of indignation in his words: “If this woman has effrontery enough to do the first of these acts, well and good, better also do the second!” The repulsive character of the one should m... [ Continue Reading ]
“The man indeed, being the image and glory of God, ought not to cover his head: but the woman is the glory of the Man 1:8. For the man is not taken from the woman; but the woman from the Man 1:9. And the man indeed was not created for the woman; but the woman for the man.” The γάρ, _for_, leads us... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus far the apostle has been arguing from the parallel between the subordinate position which Christian principle ascribes to the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3), and the receptive position of the man relatively to Christ, and of Christ Himself relatively to God. Now he shows that the conclusion he has... [ Continue Reading ]
“For this cause ought the woman to have a sign of power on her head because of the angels.” _ For this cause:_ because she was formed _from_ him and _for_ him. Literally it is: “the woman ought to have on her head _a power._ ” This term _power_ has been understood in many ways; but they are not wor... [ Continue Reading ]
“If, however, the woman is not without the man, neither is the man without the woman, in the Lord; 12. for as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; and all things of God.” The subordination of the wife to her husband is tempered in Christ by the oneness of the spiritual life... [ Continue Reading ]
The _for_ indicates that the relative equality of the two sexes in Christ was already prefigured, so to speak, by a fact belonging to the order of natural life. So it was that the _for_ of 1 Corinthians 11:7 served to give a reason for the wife's moral subordination by a fact drawn from the inferior... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 11:12-19 . The idea of the whole passage is this: The denial of the resurrection of the dead draws with it that of Christ's resurrection, and thereby gives the lie to the apostolic testimony and to the whole of Christianity.... [ Continue Reading ]
“Judge in yourselves: Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14. Doth not nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15. but if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” After appealing to the sacred anal... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Corinthians 11:13-16 . The apostle concludes by appealing to the natural impression which ought to follow from a particular feature in the physical conformation of the man and the woman. This last argument is strictly connected with the last words of 1 Corinthians 11:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
The ἤ, _or_, of the T. R. might be suitable so far as the sense goes: “ _Or indeed_, if you answer my question in the negative, does not nature teach you...?” This use of the ἤ is frequent in Paul. But for this very reason the particle might easily have been introduced; the authorities in its favour... [ Continue Reading ]
By giving to the woman a covering of hair, which envelopes her, in a manner, from head to foot, nature itself has shown that it is suitable to her to withdraw as much as possible from view, and to remain concealed. This long and rich hair is given to her ἀντὶ περιβολαίου, _in place of a veil._ This... [ Continue Reading ]
“But if any man seem to be contentious...we have no such custom, neither the Churches of God.” Holsten and others regard this saying as a kind of confession that the apostle feels the insufficiency of the proofs which he has just alleged. But such a supposition would do violence to his moral charact... [ Continue Reading ]
“Now in this that I command you I praise you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse.” There is evidently a contrast between this preface and the preamble to the foregoing passage (1 Corinthians 11:2). There the apostle praised the Corinthians for their general fidelity to... [ Continue Reading ]
VIII. DISORDERS IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. 11:17-34. The disorder which Paul has just described and combated was a small matter in comparison with that to which he now passes. The style of his language, too, becomes more severe. The apostle begins by applying to the assemblies for wor... [ Continue Reading ]
“For first of all, when ye come together in the Church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19. For there must even be sects among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” The apostle now gives the reason for the severe words: “I do not praise... [ Continue Reading ]
When a Church is forming, or when in a Church already established a revival takes place, there is a sort of fascination exercised over a great number of individuals who adopt the gospel preaching, or the new ideas, less from a serious and personal moral need than from a spirit of opposition or innov... [ Continue Reading ]
“When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, while the other is full.” On the connection with what precedes, see on 1 Corinthians 11:18. Here would stand the ἔπειτα δέ, _but... [ Continue Reading ]
By the way in which they act, they change the sacred feast into an ordinary supper, which has no longer anything in common with the sacred feast which it should recall. It is on the προ, _before_, in the verb προλαμβάνειν, that the emphasis lies: “You make haste to take the provisions you have broug... [ Continue Reading ]
“Have ye not then houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the Church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this point, I praise you not.” One feels in the lively succession of these accumulated questions the indignant emotion which fills the apost... [ Continue Reading ]
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the night in which He was betrayed, took bread: 24. and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, This is My body [which is] for you; this do in remembrance of Me. 25. After the same manner also He too... [ Continue Reading ]
The thanksgiving of the father of the family at the Paschal feast, referred to the blessings of creation and to those of the deliverance from Egypt. That of Jesus no doubt referred to the blessings of salvation, and the founding of the New Covenant. Though the breaking of the bread was necessary to... [ Continue Reading ]
The first words reappear literally in Luke's account. The two narratives prove that a certain interval separated the two acts of institution. The bread was distributed while they were eating; ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν, say Matthew and Mark, thus positively expressing what is implied by the accounts of Luke an... [ Continue Reading ]
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come.” It seems that in order to connect this verse with the foregoing, _therefore_ or _so that_ would be required, and not _for_ or _indeed._ To explain the difficulty, Ewald has taken 1 Corinthians 11:26 as... [ Continue Reading ]
“Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” From the essential character of the Supper, expounded in 1 Corinthians 11:26, there follows the gravity of its profanation. The ἤ, _or_, should be remarked, inste... [ Continue Reading ]
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, if he discern not the body.” The δέ, _but_, is progressive: “But if it is so, here is what is to be done.” The term δοκιμάζειν, _exa... [ Continue Reading ]
“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31. Now, if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” The apostle had just spoken in a general way of the judgments... [ Continue Reading ]
“Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34. If any man hunger, let him eat at home, that ye come not together to incur judgment. The rest will I set in order when I come.” This conclusion reminds us of the passage 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. Here, as there, Paul, a... [ Continue Reading ]