Bible Commentaries
1 Corinthians 11

Verse 1

Be = Become.

followers = imitators. Greek. mimetes. See 1 Corinthians 4:16 .

Christ . App-98 .

Verse 2

praise . Greek. epaineo. Elsewhere, verses: 1 Corinthians 11:17 , 1 Corinthians 11:22 .Luke 16:8 (commend). Romans 15:11 (laud).

keep = hold fast. Greek. katecho, as in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Hebrews 3:6 , Hebrews 3:14 ; Hebrews 10:23 .

ordinances . Greek. paradosis. Elsewhere, twelve times, always translated "tradition".

delivered . Greek. paradidomi. See John 19:30 .

Verse 3

would . App-102 .

have you = that you should.

know . App-132 . Compare 1 Corinthians 10:1 . In the rest of the verse are the Figures of speech Anaphora and Climax. App-6 .

man . App-123 .

woman . In this clause woman means wife, and man husband. Compare Ephesians 5:23 .

God . App-98 .

Verse 4

praying . App-134 .

prophesying . App-189 .

his head covered . Literally (something) upon ( App-104 .) the head.

dishonoureth . Greek. kataischuno. See Romans 5:5 .

his head . i.e. Christ in Whom he has access to God with unveiled face (2 Corinthians 3:18 ).

Verse 5

uncovered = unveiled. Greek. akatakaluptos. Only here and 1 Corinthians 11:13 .

even all, &c . = one and the same with a shaven (one). If she discards the covering which is the symbol of her position, she may as well discard that which nature has given.

shaven . Greek. xurao. See Acts 21:24 .

Verse 6

if . App-118 .

not . App-105 .

covered . Greek. katakaluptomai. Only here and 1 Corinthians 11:7 .

also be shorn = be shorn also.

shorn . See Acts 8:32 .

Verse 7

forasmuch as he is = being originally. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

image . Greek. eikon. See Romans 1:23 . Compare Genesis 1:27 ; Genesis 9:6 .

Verse 9

Neither, &c . And truly the man was not (Greek. ou) .

for = on account of. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 11:2 .

Verse 10

For this cause = On account of (as above) this.

power = authority ( App-172 .), i.e. the sign of authority, a veil, which betokened subjection to her husband. Compare Genesis 24:65 .

on . App-104 .

because of = on account of, as above.

the angels . Compare Genesis 6:2 . 2 Peter 2:4 .Jude 1:6 . Cannot refer to the bishop or other officer; for why should he be affected more than the other men in the congregation?

Verse 11

neither . Greek. oute.

without = apart from. Greek. choris .

in . App-104 .

the Lord . No art. App-98 . Compare Galatians 3:28 .

Verse 12

by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 11:1 .

all things . Compare 1 Corinthians 8:6 . 2 Corinthians 5:18 . Ephesians 3:9 .

Verse 13

Judge . App-122 . Figure of speech Anacoenosis . App-6 .

is it comely = is it becoming. Greek. prepei. Elsewhere, Matthew 3:15 .Ephesians 5:3 . 1 Timothy 2:10 . Titus 2:1 .Hebrews 2:10 ; Hebrews 7:26 .

Verse 14

not even. Greek. oude.

if . App-118 .

have long hair = let the hair grow. Greek. komao. Only here and 1 Corinthians 11:15 .

shame . Greek. atimia. See Romans 1:26 .

Verse 15

hair . Greek. kome. Only here.

is = has been.

for = instead of. App-104 .

covering . Greek. peribolaion. Only here and Hebrews 1:12 (vesture).

Verse 16

any man = any one. App-123 .

contentious = fond of strife. Greek. philoneikos. Only here.

custom . See John 18:39 .

neither . Greek. oude.

churches . App-186 .

Verse 17

in this, &c . = declaring this. Greek. parangello. See Acts 1:4 .

come together . Greek. sunerchomai. This was a voluntary assembling, not the authoritative "being gathered to His name" of Matthew 18:20 .

for = unto. App-104 .

Verse 18

the . All the texts omit. "In church" means "in assembly". No buildings were set apart for Christian worship so early as this.

be . Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48 .

divisions . Greek. schisma. See 1 Corinthians 1:10 .

among . App-104 .

partly believe it = believe some part (of it), or believe it of some part of you.

believe . App-150 .

Verse 19

also heresies = heresies also.

heresies = sects. See Acts 5:17 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

approved . Greek. dokimos. See Romans 14:18 .

be made = become. This is the reason why divisions are permitted, but is no justification of them. Compare 1 John 2:19 .

Verse 20

into one place . Greek. epi to auto. See Acts 2:1 . These were the social meals of the early church, called love feasts (2 Peter 2:13 .Jude 1:12; Jude 1:12 ), followed by the Lord's Supper. According to the Greek custom, each brought his own provisions, and while the rich fared sumptuously, the poor sometimes had little or nothing; for the spirit of division led to the exclusion by some of all who were not of their own party. Thus sectarianism invaded even the Lord's table.

Lord's . Greek. kuriakos. Only here and Revelation 1:10 . See note there.

Verse 21

every = each.

taketh before = first taketh. Greek. prolambano. Only here, Mark 14:8 . Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:1 . Thus the over-indulgence of some unfitted them for the ordinance.

Verse 22

What? have ye not = For is it (Greek. me, introducing the question) that ye have not (Greek. ou) .

shame . Greek. kataischuno. Same as in 1 Corinthians 11:4 .

What shall I say, &c . Figure of speech Amphidiorthosis. App-6 .

Verse 23

have . Omit.

of = from. App-104 .

Lord . App-98 .

also I delivered = I delivered also. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:1 .

unto = to.

Jesus . App-98 .

the same = in (Greek. en) the.

betrayed . Greek. paradidomi. Same as "delivered", 1 Corinthians 11:2 . See John 19:30 .

Verse 24

given thanks . Greek. eucharisteo. See Acts 27:35 .

Take, eat . The texts omit.

is . See Matthew 26:26 .

broken . The texts omit.

for = on behalf of. App-104 .

in = for. App-104 .

remembrance of Me = My memorial. Greek. anamnesis. Only here, 1 Corinthians 11:25 .Luke 22:19 . Hebrews 10:3 .

Verse 25

After the same manner = Likewise.

also He took , &c . = He took the cup also.

when = after. App-104 .

This cup, &c . Figure of speech Metaphor, as in 1 Corinthians 11:24 . App-6 . If, as Rome maintains, the wine is transubstantiated into the blood of Christ, can the cup be so too?

new . Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17 .

testament = covenant. See Luke 22:20 and Hebrews 9:14-23 .

as oft as . Greek. hosakis. Only here, 1 Corinthians 11:26 . Revelation 11:6 .

Verse 26

shew = proclaim. App-121 .

Verse 27

unworthily . Greek. anaxios. Only here and 1 Corinthians 11:29 (which see).

guilty . Greek. enochos, as Matthew 26:66

of = in regard to. The Genitive of Relation. App-17 .

Verse 28

man . App-123 .

examine = test or try. Greek. dokimazo. Often translated prove, or approve. Compare 1 Corinthians 11:19 with 1 Corinthians 9:27 .

so . i.e. after this self-testing.

Verse 29

unworthily . The texts omit. In that case after "himself", read "since he does not discern", &c.

damnation = condemnation, or judgment. App-177 .

discerning . App-122 .

the Lord's body . The texts read "the body". That is, he does not recognize the common membership of all the saints (1 Corinthians 10:17 ). This was the sectarian and selfish spirit rebuked in verses: 1 Corinthians 11:19-22 . Note the Figure of speech Paregmenon. App-6 .

Verse 30

many = not a few, as Revised Version.

sleep . App-171 . This verse explains what the judgment of 1 Corinthians 11:29 was. Temporal suffering, and even death. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 1 John 5:16 , 1 John 5:17 .

Verse 31

would = were to.

judge . Same as "discern", 1 Corinthians 11:29 .

Verse 32

chastened . Greek. paideuo. Compare Hebrews 12:6 , Hebrews 12:7 , Hebrews 12:10 . Revelation 3:19 .

of = by. App-104 .

condemned . App-122 .

with . App-104 .

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 . This shows that the judgment of 1 Corinthians 11:29 is not eternal judgment. In verses: 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 , the Figure of speech Paregmenon occurs again.

Verse 33

to eat = for (Greek. eis) eating.

tarry = wait. Compare Acts 17:16 . James 5:7 .

Verse 34

at home = in (Greek. en) the house.

unto . App-104 .

condemnation . Same as "damnation", 1 Corinthians 11:29 .

set in order . Greek. diatasso. See Acts 7:44 .