The first verse in this chapter properly belongs to the preceding, and is the conclusion of the discussion which the apostle had been carrying on in that and the previous chapters. It has been improperly separated from that chapter, and in reading should be read in connection with it. The remainder... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME - Imitate my example in the matter now under discussion. As I deny myself; as I seek to give no offence to anyone; as I endeavor not to alarm the prejudices of others, but in all things to seek their salvation, so do you. This verse belongs to the previous chapter, and should n... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I PRAISE YOU, BRETHREN - Paul always chose to commend Christians when it could be done, and never seemed to suppose that such praise would be injurious to them. See the note at 1 Corinthians 1:4. On this occasion he was the more ready to praise them as far as it could be done, because there were... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WOULD HAVE YOU KNOW - “I invite your attention particularly to the following considerations, in order to form a correct opinion on this subject.” Paul does not at once answer the inquiry, and determine what ought to be done; but he invites their attention to a series of remarks on the subject,... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY MAN PRAYING OR PROPHESYING - The word “prophesying” here means, evidently, “teaching;” or publicly speaking to the people on the subject of religion; see the note at Acts 2:17. See also the subject considered more at length in the notes on 1 Corinthians 14. Whether these persons who are here s... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVERY WOMAN THAT PRAYETH OR PROPHESIETH - In the Old Testament prophetesses are not unfrequently mentioned. Thus, Miriam is mentioned Exodus 15:20; Deborah Judges 4:4; Huldah 2 Kings 22:14; Noadiah Nehemiah 6:14. So also in the New Testament Anna is mentioned as a prophetess; Luke 2:36. That the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THE WOMAN BE NOT COVERED - If her head be not covered with a veil. LET HER ALSO BE SHORN - Let her long hair be cut off. Let her lay aside all the usual and proper indications of her sex and rank in life. If it is done in one respect, it may with the same propriety be done in all. BUT IF IT... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A MAN INDEED OUGHT NOT TO COVER HIS HEAD - That is, with a veil; or in public worship; when he approaches God, or when in His name he addresses his fellow man. It is not fit and proper that he should be covered. The reason why it is not proper, the apostle immediately states. FORASMUCH AS HE IS... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MAN IS NOT OF THE WOMAN - The man was not formed from the woman. BUT THE WOMAN OF THE MAN - From his side; Genesis 2:18, Genesis 2:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER WAS THE MAN CREATED FOR THE WOMAN ... - This is a simple statement of what is expressed in Genesis. The woman was made for the comfort and happiness of the man. Not to be a slave, but a help-meet; not to be the minister of his pleasures, but to be his aid and comforter in life; not to be reg... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE ... - There is scarcely any passage in the Scriptures which has more exercised the ingenuity of commentators than this verse. The various attempts which have been made to explain it may be seen in Pool, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, etc. After all the explanations which have been given of... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS - Lest the man should assume to himself too much superiority, and lest he should regard the woman as made solely for his pleasure, and should treat her as in all respects inferior, and withhold the respect that is due to her. The design of this verse and the following is to show, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE WOMAN IS OF THE MAN - In the original creation, she was formed from the man. SO IS THE MAN ALSO BY THE WOMAN - Is born of the woman, or descended from her. The sexes are dependent on each other, and should therefore cultivate an indissoluble union. BUT ALL THINGS OF GOD - All things were cr... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE IN YOURSELVES - Or, “Judge among yourselves.” I appeal to you. I appeal to your natural sense of what is proper and right. Paul had used various arguments to show them the impropriety of their females speaking unveiled in public. He now appeals to their natural sense of what was decent and rig... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH NOT EVEN NATURE ITSELF - The word nature (φύσις phusis) denotes evidently that sense of propriety which all men have, and which is expressed in any prevailing or universal custom. That which is universal we say is according to nature. It is such as is demanded by the natural sense of fitness a... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A GLORY UNTO HER - It is an ornament, and adorning. The same instinctive promptings of nature which make it proper for a man to wear short hair, make it proper that the woman should suffer hers to grow long. FOR A COVERING - Margin, “veil.” It is given to her as a sort of natural veil, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF ANY MAN SEEM TO BE CONTENTIOUS - The sense of this passage is probably this: “If any man, any teacher, or others, “is disposed” to be strenuous about this, or to make it a matter of difficulty; if he is disposed to call in question my reasoning, and to dispute my premises and the consideratio... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IN THIS THAT I DECLARE - In this that I am about to state to you; to wit, your conduct in regard to the Lord’s Supper. Why this subject is introduced here is not very apparent. The connection may be this. In the subjects immediately preceding he had seen much to commend, and he was desirous of c... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR FIRST OF ALL - That is, I mention as the first thing to be reproved. WHEN YE COME TOGETHER IN THE CHURCH - When you come together in a religious assembly; when you convene for public worship. The word “church” here does not mean, as it frequently does with us, a “building.” No instance of such... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE MUST BE - It is necessary (δεῖ dei); it is to he expected; there are reasons why there should be. What these reasons are he states in the close of the verse; compare Matthew 18:7; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:2. The meaning is, not that divisions are inseparable from the nature of the Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE COME TOGETHER THEREFORE ... - When you are assembled as a church, compare Hebrews 10:25, and see the note on Acts 2:1. Christians were constantly in the habit of assembling for public worship. It is probable that at this early period all the Christians in Corinth were accustomed to meet in t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN EATING - When you eat, having professedly come together to observe this ordinance. In order to understand this, it seems necessary to suppose that they had in some way made the Lord’s supper either connected with a common feast, or that they regarded it as a mere common festival to be observe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT! - This whole verse is designed to convey the language of severe rebuke for their having so grossly perverted the design of the Lord’s Supper. HAVE YE NOT HOUSES ... - Do you not know that the church of God is not designed to be a place of feasting and revelry; nor even a place where to partak... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ... - In order most effectually to check the evils which existed, and to bring them to a proper mode of observing the Lord’s Supper, the apostle proceeds to state distinctly and particularly its design. They had mistaken its nature. They supposed it might be a common festival. They had made it t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS - See the note on Matthew 26:26. Matthew reads it, “and blessed it.” The words used here are, however, substantially the same as there; and this fact shows that since this was communicated to Paul “directly” by the Saviour, and in a manner distinct from that by which Mat... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE SAME MANNER - In like manner; likewise. With the same circumstances, and ceremonies, and designs. The purpose was the same. WHEN HE HAD SUPPED - That is, all this occurred after the observance of the usual paschal supper. It could not, therefore, be a part of it, nor could it have been de... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS OFTEN - Whenever you do this. YE EAT THIS BREAD - This is a direct and positive refutation of the doctrine of the papists that the bread is changed into the real body of the Lord Jesus. Here it is expressly called “bread” - bread still - bread after the consecration. Before the Saviour insti... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE - (ὥστε hōste). So that, or it follows from what has been said. If this be the origin and intention of the Lord’s Supper, then it follows that whoever partakes of it in an improper manner is guilty of his body and blood. The design of Paul is to correct their improper mode of observing... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET A MAN EXAMINE HIMSELF - Let him search and see if he have the proper qualifications - if he has knowledge to discern the Lord’s body (note, 1 Corinthians 11:29); if he has true repentance for his sins; true faith in the Lord Jesus; and a sincere desire to live the life of a Christian, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT EATETH ... - In order to excite them to a deeper reverence for this ordinance, and to a more solemn mode of observing it, Paul in this verse states another consequence of partaking of it in an improper and irreverent manner; compare 1 Corinthians 11:27. EATETH AND DRINKETH DAMNATION - Th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE - On account of the improper manner of celebrating the Lord’s Supper; see 1 Corinthians 11:21. MANY ARE WEAK - (ἀσθενεῖς astheneis). Evidently referring to prevailing bodily sickness and disease. This is the natural and obvious interpretation of this passage. The sense clearly is, t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES - If we would examine ourselves, 1 Corinthians 11:28; if we would exercise a strict scrutiny over our hearts and feelings, and conduct, and come to the Lord’s Table with a proper spirit, we should escape the condemnation to which they are exposed who observe it in an... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN WE ARE JUDGED - This is added, evidently, to console those who had been afflicted on account of their improper manner of observing the Lord’s Supper. The sense is, that though they were thus afflicted by God; though he had manifested his displeasure at the manner in which they had observed... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE COME TOGETHER TO EAT - Professedly to eat the Lord’s Supper. TARRY ONE FOR ANOTHER - Do not be guilty of disorder, intemperance, and gluttony; see the note at 1 Corinthians 11:21. Doddridge understands this of the feast that he supposes to have preceded the Lord’s Supper. But the more obvio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF ANY MAN HUNGER ... - The Lord’s Supper is not a common feast; it is not designed as a place where a man may gratify his appetite. It is designed as a simple “commemoration,” and not as a “feast.” This remark was designed to correct their views of the supper, and to show them that it was to be... [ Continue Reading ]