The Corinthians" behavior at the Lord"s Supper was so bad that Paul could say they were worse off for observing it as they did rather than better off. Their failure was not that they failed to observe the Lord"s Supper. It was that when they gathered they did not behave as the church, in which there is no distinction between "Jews or Greeks," "slaves or free" ( 1 Corinthians 12:13). In the unsaved Gentile culture of Paul"s day it was typical for hosts to give preferential treatment to persons of status. [1][source]
Context Summary
1 Corinthians 11:11-22 - Unity And Order In Public Assembly
The power on a woman's head in 1 Corinthians 11:10 probably refers to the veil or covering which the Grecian woman assumed at marriage as the sign that she was not free from the sacred ties and duties of wedlock. In Paul's thought of the matter, therefore, it was unseemly for the Christian matron to lay this aside. He conceded the absolute freedom and equality of male and female in Christ, and yet he stood for the observance of the best customs of the age, lest the gospel should be brought into disrepute. The women, therefore, must veil their heads in the Christian assemblies as the angels veil their faces in the presence of God.
The uncovered face of man is to the glory of God, but the covered face of woman recognizes that she finds her glory in her husband's love and care. Each is dependent on the other-the man on God, and the wife on her spouse. These precepts and reasons are somewhat foreign to modern thought, but at least we must notice that there was no subject too trivial-even the headdress-to be brought into subjection to Christ and related to the great principle of His supreme Headship and Lordship. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 11
1He reproves them, because in holy assemblies, 4their men prayed with their heads covered, 6and women with their heads uncovered; 17and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse; 21as, namely, in profaning with their own feast the Lord's supper 25Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:17
This [τουτο] Probably the preceding one about the head-dress of women, and transition to what follows. [source]
I praise you not [ουκ επαινω] In contrast to the praise in 1 Corinthians 11:2. For the better (εις το κρεισσον eis to kreisson). Neuter articular comparative of κρατυς kratus but used as comparative of καλος kalos good. Attic form κρειττον kreitton For the worse Old comparative from ηκα hēka softly, used as comparative of κακος kakos bad. In N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 12:15. [source]
For the better [εις το κρεισσον] Neuter articular comparative of κρατυς kratus but used as comparative of καλος kalos good. Attic form κρειττον kreitton [source]
For the worse [εις το ησσον] Old comparative from ηκα hēka softly, used as comparative of κακος kakos bad. In N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 12:15. [source]
I declare [παραγγέλλω] Wrong. It means in the New Testament only command. See on Luke 5:14; see on Acts 1:4. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:17
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: παραγγέλλω
Sense: to transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce.
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:17
Probably the preceding one about the head-dress of women, and transition to what follows. [source]
In contrast to the praise in 1 Corinthians 11:2. For the better (εις το κρεισσον eis to kreisson). Neuter articular comparative of κρατυς kratus but used as comparative of καλος kalos good. Attic form κρειττον kreitton For the worse Old comparative from ηκα hēka softly, used as comparative of κακος kakos bad. In N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 12:15. [source]
Neuter articular comparative of κρατυς kratus but used as comparative of καλος kalos good. Attic form κρειττον kreitton [source]
Old comparative from ηκα hēka softly, used as comparative of κακος kakos bad. In N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 12:15. [source]
Wrong. It means in the New Testament only command. See on Luke 5:14; see on Acts 1:4. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:17
See on John 10:19. In classical Greek used only of actual rents in material. So in Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21. In the sense of discord, see John 7:43; John 9:16; John 10:19. Here, faction, for which the classical word is στάσις :division within the christian community. The divisions of the Corinthian church arose on questions of marriage and food (1 Corinthians 7:3, 1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Corinthians 7:12); on eating, meat offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:7; 1 Corinthians 10:20); on the comparative value of spiritual endowments, such as speaking with “tongues” (14); on the privileges and demeanor of women in the assemblies for worship (1 Corinthians 11:5-15); on the relations of the rich and the poor in the agape or love-feasts (1 Corinthians 11:17-22); and on the prerogatives of the different christian teachers (1 Corinthians 1:12, 1 Corinthians 1:13; 3:3-22). [source]