1 Corinthians 11:17-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

In this passage the apostle sharply rebukes them for much greater disorders than the former, in their partaking of the Lord's supper, which was commonly done in the first ages, as the ancients tell us, with a love-feast annexed, which gave occasion to the scandalous disorders which the apostle here reprehends, concerning which observe, I. The manner in which he introduces his charge: ?Now in this that I declare to you I praise you not, Rom. 11:17. I cannot commend, but must blame and condemn... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

11:17-22 When I give you this instruction, I am not praising you, because when you meet together it is actually doing you more harm than good. Firstly, I hear that when you meet together in assembly, there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. There are bound to be differences of opinion among you, so that it may become clear which of you are of tried and sterling quality. So then when you assemble together in the same place it is certainly not the Lord's meal that you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17

Now in this that I declare unto you ,.... The Syriac version reads, "this is what I command"; which some refer to what he had been discoursing of, adding to his arguments, and the examples of the church, his own orders and command, that men should worship God publicly, uncovered, and women covered; though it seems rather to respect what follows, what the apostle was about to declare unto them; concerning which he says, I praise you not ; as he did in 1 Corinthians 11:2 that they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:18

For first of all, when ye come together in the church ,.... The place where the church met together to perform divine service, called "one place". 1 Corinthians 11:20 and is distinguished from their own "houses", 1 Corinthians 11:22 and the first thing he took notice of as worthy of dispraise and reproof, in their religious assemblies, were their animosities and factions: I hear that there be divisions among you : schisms and parties, either about their ministers, one being for Paul,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:17

Now in this - I praise you not - In the beginning of this epistle the apostle did praise them for their attention in general to the rules he had laid down, see 1 Corinthians 11:2 ; but here he is obliged to condemn certain irregularities which had crept in among them, particularly relative to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Through some false teaching which they had received, in the absence of the apostle, they appear to have celebrated it precisely in the same way the Jews did their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:18

There be divisions among you - They had σχισματα , schisms, among them: the old parties were kept up, even in the place where they assembled to eat the Lord's Supper. The Paulians, the Kephites, and the Apollonians, continued to be distinct parties; and ate their meals separately, even in the same house. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:17

Verse 17 His reproof of the fault previously noticed was but a mild and gentle admonition, because the Corinthians sinned in ignorance, so that it was proper that they should readily be forgiven. Paul, too, had praised them in the outset, because they had faithfully kept his enactments. (1 Corinthians 11:2.) Now he begins to reprove them more sharply, because they offended more grievously in some things, and not through ignorance. 17. But, in warning you as to this, I do not praise. (644) For... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:18

Verse 18 18.When ye come together in the Church, I hear there are divisions Some take the words divisions and heresies, as referring to that disorder ( ἀταξίαν) of which he speaks soon afterwards. I consider them as having a more extensive signification, and certainly it is not likely that he would employ terms so improper and unsuitable for the purpose of exposing that abuse. (647) For as to their alleging that he has expressed himself in more severe terms, with the view of exposing more fully... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not; rather, as in the Revised Version, But in giving you this charge, I praise you not. A reference to the "I praise you" of 1 Corinthians 11:2 . Ye come together. As he advances, his rebukes become more and more serious; for the present reproach does not affect a few, but the Church assembly in general. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-19

Sectarian feeling within the Church. "There be divisions among you." "There must be also heresies [sects] among you." Distinguish between the divisions which lead to the formation of separate sects, and the sectarian feeling which may disturb the harmony and the work of a particular Church. The apostle refers not to sects dividing the Church into parts, but to parties and party feeling within an individual Church. Such party feeling tells most injuriously on spiritual profit and progress.... read more

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