By Sam Nobles
Having
spent the last three chapters discussing the issues surrounding eating things
sacrificed to idols, Paul now rapidly covers two separate matters in this one
chapter. Some of the things covered in this chapter may only have a local or
cultural meaning to the Corinthians, but even if that is the case, the
spiritual truths are valid and relevant for us today.
The
first matter that Paul covers is that of women praying and prophesying with
their heads uncovered (v.2-16). This
particular section of chapter 11 has been disputed and debated. Some think that
the teaching given here was only able to be applied to that particular culture
in Corinth. There are also some who even go so far as to contend that these
verses reflect Paul's prejudice against women, since he was unmarried. On the
other end of the spectrum, there are those who accept the teaching of this
portion, seeking to obey its precepts, even if they do not understand them. The
problem with this portion of Scripture is that it implies that it is all right
for a woman to pray or prophesy in the assembly as long as she has a veil or
other covering on her head. But in another letter to the same church, Paul
teaches that women should be silent in the assembly (1 Corinthians 14:34), and that they are not permitted to teach or
to have authority over the man, but learn in silence (1 Timothy 2:12). This passage is a difficult one to decipher, but
what does seem clear is that both men and women have specific expectations in
the eyes of the Lord. In the matter of head coverings, the woman's duty is the
exact opposite of the man's; therefore, the spiritual truth we take from this
passage is God functions through authority.
The second matter that Paul
concerns the manner in which the Corinthian church was abusing the observance
of the Lord's Supper (v.17-34). “In the early days of the church, Christians
celebrated the “agape,” or love feast along with the Lord's Supper. The love
feast was something like a common meal, shared in a spirit of love and fellowship.
At the end of the love feast, the Christians often had the remembrance of the
Lord with the bread and wine. But before very long, abuses crept in.”i Not only were the Corinthian Christians
missing the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, but the rich believers were shaming
the poor believers by having extravagant meals and not sharing with them. It
was so bad that some of the believers were leaving this feast hungry, while
others were drunk as they sat down to partake of the Lord's Supper. Paul
angrily rebukes this dishonorable conduct by letting them know that the
consequences for profaning such a holy sacrament were serious in the eyes of
God – some were weak, ill, and even dying because of their lack of
self-control, not discerning the Lord’s body, and shaming the poor.
[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible
Commentary: Second Edition, ed. Arthur L. Farstad, 2nd ed. edition (Thomas
Nelson, 2016).
Scripture to Claim:
“So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait
for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come
together it will not be for judgment…” (1 Corinthians 11:33-34a ESV).
