1 Corinthians 11:2

Now. praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as. delivered them to you.

'Now. praise you' -'I must give you credit' (Phi) Paul was. man ever ready to praise when he honestly could.

Point to Note:

Since so much of this letter is filled with rebuke and criticism, this has lead some writers to reexamine this word of praise.. popular view is expressed as follows: "The praise here given is so little suggested by the context, and to little accords with the tone of the Epistle...that one conjectures the Apostle to be quoting professions made in the Letter from Cor. rather than writing simply out of his own mind: 'Now. praise you that (as you say) in all things you remember me, and hold fast the instructions as. delivered them to you.'" (Gr. Ex. N.T. pp. 870-871)

In contrast Fee offers another point of view: "Thus, even though he may very well be picking up language from their letter, and perhaps in the first instance (vv 3-16) speaking to something they are advocating, this opening sentence most likely serves to introduce the whole of chaps. 11-14. Even thou they remember him in everything, there are some areas with regard to the "traditions" where praise is not in order. They may be following the "traditions" all right, but not in proper ways. " (p. 500)

'that ye remember me in all things' -'the word "in everything" makes one think he is quoting them. They would tend to have. higher view of their obedience than is realistic.' (Fee p. 500)

'remember me' -Paul then specifies what "remembering him" means.

'and hold fast the traditions, even as. delivered them to you' -i.e. they had remembered what Paul had taught them. 'Hold firmly to the traditions, just as. delivered them to you.' (NASV)

'traditions' -lit., to give over, 'is an old word and merely something handed on from one to another. The thing handed on may be bad as in Matthew 15:2 f..and contrary to the will of God (Mark 7:8 f) or it may be wholly good as here.' (Robertson p. 159)

Points to Note:

1. The teaching of the apostles can be rightly labeled as "traditions", because it was "handed down to them", i.e. they didn't invent it and neither did it originate with them. (Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 11:23 '... received of the Lord..'; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:16)

2. Jesus Himself perceived the gospel message being "handed down" from one generation to another. (Matthew 28:19) Therefore any argument that seeks to undermine the accuracy of the Biblical record based on the "distance and time" from it's point of origin, must in turn question the "wisdom" of Jesus (for this is the very method that He chose to spread the gospel from nation to nation and from generation to generation- 2 Timothy 2:2)

3. All "traditions" aren't bad. If it originated with Jesus, then no matter "how long we have done it this way", we still need to do in that way.

4. Note: In this letter when the Corinthians had sought to "improve" upon what Paul had taught them, they are rebuked for it. (1 Corinthians 11:17ff) Innovation isn't always. good thing.

Increasingly the Church is being faced with the complaint that our worship services are dull and boring. It is interesting to note, that God never rebuked His people for "the failure to innovate, improvise and jazz up the worship services (in OT or NT)." Jesus didn't rebuke His generation for the failure to change the synagogue or temple worship and Paul didn't rebuke the Corinthians for "doing the same old thing". Rather, God often rebukes His people for worshipping Him without their hearts. (Matthew 15:8) And innovation in the worship of God, has. very poor track record in the Scriptures. (Genesis 4:3; Leviticus 10:1; 1 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Chronicles 26:16)