Last time we studied the first half of

I Corinthians 11 with these thoughts

 

 

(1 Cor 11:12) For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

 

 

(1 Cor 11:13) Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

 

“Judge among yourselves.”  How can they do this?  It is apparently from their culture.

 

(1 Cor 11:14) Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? {15} But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

 

Nature here seems a bit more authoritative than custom which can change with time.

 

(1 Cor 11:16) But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

 

The statement is a bit difficult to translate with absolute authority, but we can make the following observations:

 

1.  In general, we should not be contentious about things in the church.

2.  It may be that this entire discussion has been basically about customs of their day.

 

 

The second half deals with

 1) Divisions among them, and

2) the Lord’s Supper:

 

(1 Cor 11:17 NKJV)  Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

 

 

(1 Cor 11:18) For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

 

 

(1 Cor 11:3) for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

 

 

 (I Cor 3:4) For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

 

(1 Cor 11:19 NKJV) For there must also be factions¹ among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

 

(1 Cor 11:19 KJV)  For there must be also heresies¹ among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

 

¹álñåóéò   hairesis   (heresies)

Thayer Definition:

2) choosing, choice

4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party)  4a) of the Sadducees  4b) of the Pharisees

4c) of the Christians

5) dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims

 

But what about:  “that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”

 

(Rom 16:17 NKJV)  Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

 

But who are the “Heretics”? 

The blame game:  My brother Lloyd told Mom and Dad that Don kicked him.  Don’s story:

“He ran into my foot.”

 

It is probably more difficult in the church.

Who is right?  It isn’t always easy.

 

Mario says:  “I discovered than Jesus washed his disciples' feet before the supper, and that they (the disciples) should do the same thing with their brothers of faith, if they really want to take part in the communion service. This practice has been eradicated from the Church of Christ.”

 

Now who is right?  I think we are.  Mario would probably say we are the ones who changed things, so how do we mark “those who are approved may be recognized among you”?

 

May I make two points:

 

1.            Foot washing and many other practices do divide the church today.

2.            In most cases, both sides insist that they are correct, and usually with some basis for it.

How do we solve the problem?

I know of two possibilities:

 

1.            The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ solution:  Read the Watch Tower material.   Everybody answer out of the book, and we will all be one.

2.            We accept some differences and get along together.  (Romans 14 & 15)

 

 

(1 Cor 11:20) Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.

 

 

(1 Cor 11:21) For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

 

Obviously this is more than the Lord’s Supper as we partake of it today.  This is often referred to as their “love feast.”  A meal associated with the Lord ’s Supper.  But there were abuses!  So:

 

(1 Cor 11:22) What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

 

 

 

(1 Cor 11:23) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24} and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

 

“For I received from the Lord” --Paul wasn’t there that night, so these explanations were given as a special revelation to Paul.

“He broke it”  I remember when an entire piece of bread was placed on one of the plates, and the one who offered thanks for the bread also broke it into pieces and put it on the plates.

 

"Take, eat; this is My body”  Obviously, His body was still alive and in front of them.  They understood the figurative language He was using.  Centuries later, the Roman Catholic church began teaching that the bread became the little body of Jesus.  Absurd, but it is accepted!

 

(1 Cor 11:25) In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

 

“The cup”  Something else that churches have needless divided over.  The cup must refer to the contents, not the container.  Notice the instructions: “drink it”   You drink the contents, not the container.  It isn’t the container, or number of containers that is important, it’s the contents.

 

(1 Cor 11:26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

 

“As often” doesn’t suggest quarterly or yearly to me.  Compare verse 20:

 

(1 Cor 11:20) Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.

 

“When you come together in one place,”  Some conclude they did this each time they came together.  If they met weekly, this would fit.

 

(1 Cor 11:27) Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

This is indeed very serious, but the emphasis is on the manner in which we partake.  That’s illustrated by what Paul gives as the way to avoid this problem:

 

(1 Cor 11:28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

The passage seems pretty clear.  We need to examine ourselves, not each other.  This does not suggest closed communion.  What we need to do is also clear:  discern the Lord's body.  That’s why is so important that we think about what we are doing as we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

 

(1 Cor 11:30) For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

 

Barnes and Clarke, and perhaps others, take this to be physical, and make “sleep” the sleep of death.  Not too different from the case of Ananias and Sapphira

 

The answer: (I Cor 11:31) For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. {32} But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Paul’s Conclusion:

 

(1 Cor 11:33) Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. {34} But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

 

Again, not a condemnation of eating in the building, but a condemnation of their abuse of the Lord’s Supper.

 

Division in Church

And

The Lord’s Supper are Serious Matters.

 

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