Be ye followers of me, even as I also _am_ of Christ. Ver. 1. _Be ye followers of me_] This verse properly belongs to the former chapter. The distinguishing of the books of Scripture into Chapter s is not very ancient. But that of verses was devised and done by Robert Stephens, _Pio quidem at tumul... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered _them_ to you. Ver. 2. _And keep the ordinances_] Gr. the traditions or doctrines by word of mouth. These are, 1. Dogmatic, concerning faith and practice, 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1... [ Continue Reading ]
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman _is_ the man; and the head of Christ _is_ God. Ver. 3. _The head of the woman is man_] Were it not an ill sight to see the shoulders above the head, the woman usurp authority over the man αυθεντειν, 1 Timothy... [ Continue Reading ]
Every man praying or prophesying, having _his_ head covered, dishonoureth his head. Ver. 4. _Dishonoureth his head_] As they accounted it then and there. In other places it is otherwise. The French preach covered. The Turks neither kneel nor uncover the head at public prayer, as holding those postu... [ Continue Reading ]
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with _her_ head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. Ver. 5. _Praying or prophesying_] That is, joining with the man that prayeth or prophesieth, and going along with him in her heart. Thus the king and all Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. Ver. 6. _For a woman to be shorn_] Our _Hic muliers_ hold it now no shame. If Henry VI had seen such creatures, he would have cried out, as once he did at the sight of... [ Continue Reading ]
For a man indeed ought not to cover _his_ head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. Ver. 7. _He is the image and glory of God_] Even as an image in the glass doth look toward us, from whom it is reflected. So, saith one, doth God's image in us make... [ Continue Reading ]
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Ver. 8. _But the woman of the man_] Of a bone she was made, and but one bone, _Ne esset ossea, _ saith a divine (Vitis Palatina); a bone of the side it was, not of the head (she is not to be his mistress), not of the foot (she is not to be... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. Ver. 9. _For the woman_] _sc._ To serve her, unless it be some women (as Artemisia, Zenobia, Blandina), specially called to and qualified for government. Among whom Queen Elizabeth, that female glory, is famous, of whom a great F... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause ought the woman to have power on _her_ head because of the angels. Ver. 10. _To have power_] That is, a veil, called in Hebrew Radid, of Radad, to bear rule. And indeed what was this subjection to the husband, but a kind of power and protection derived to the wife, in respect of her... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. Ver. 11. _Nevertheless neither is_] This is added for the woman's comfort. There must be all mutual respects and melting-heartedness between married couples, which being preserved fresh and fruitful,... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the woman _is_ of the man, even so _is_ the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Ver. 12. _But all things of God_] God consulted not with man to make him happy, saith one. As he was ignorant while himself was made, so he did not know while a second self was made out of him. Both tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Ver. 13. _Judge in yourselves_] All Christ's sheep are rational, able to discern the things that differ, having their senses thereunto exercised, Hebrews 5:14. But some sins are condemned by common sense, as here; and religion... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? Ver. 14. _That if a man hath long hair_] Bushes of vanity, which they will never part with, said Marbury, until the devil put a candle into the bush. But our gallants object, that the apostle here intendet... [ Continue Reading ]
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for _her_ hair is given her for a covering. Ver. 15. _Her hair is given her_] Now it is a vile thing to go against nature. Cyprian and Austin say that garish apparel is worse than whoredom; because whoredom only corrupts chastity, but this corrup... [ Continue Reading ]
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Ver. 16. _Seem to be contentious_] _A doctore glorioso, et pastore contentioso, et inutilibus questionibus, liberet Ecclesiam suam Domiuus, _ said Luther. From a vain-glorious doctor, from a contentious past... [ Continue Reading ]
Now in this that I declare _unto you_ I praise _you_ not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. Ver. 17. _I praise you not_] _q.d._ I discommend and dispraise you. The Corinthians were in many things faulty and blameworthy. St Paul deals plainly and freely with them, and woul... [ Continue Reading ]
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. Ver. 18. _There be divisions_] Gr. σχισματα, schisms, rents, yea, and that about the sacrament of the Lord's supper (that bond of love), through Satan's malice. Now there can be... [ Continue Reading ]
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. Ver. 19. _There must be heresies_] Therefore much more schisms, which also, for the most part, do degenerate into heresies; as an old serpent into a dragon. In the time of Pope Clement V, Frederi... [ Continue Reading ]
When ye come together therefore into one place, _this_ is not to eat the Lord's supper. Ver. 20. _This is not to eat, &c._] When the Lord's supper therefore is not rightly administered, it is no longer his; especially if the substantials thereof be omitted. As in those sacrifices,Hosea 9:4; "Their... [ Continue Reading ]
For in eating every one taketh before _other_ his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. Ver. 21. _Every one taketh_] Eateth and communicateth with those of his own sect and faction only, not staying for others. Such among the Philippians were those of "the concision," 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise _you_ not. Ver. 22. _What, have ye not houses?_] Here he abolished their love feasts, for the disorder that happened therein.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the _same_ night in which he was betrayed took bread: Ver. 23. _For I have received_] _Rectum est regula sui et obliqui._ The apostle seems to rectify them, by reducing them to the first institution; and by le... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had given thanks, he brake _it_, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 24. _This is my body_] _En praeclaram illam consecrationem, _ Behold that goodly consecration (saith Beza) for the which the shavelings say that they are mo... [ Continue Reading ]
After the same manner also _he took_ the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink _it_, in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. _He took the cup_] _See Trapp on "_ Mat 26:27 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Ver. 26. _Ye do show_] We need no other crucifix to mind us of Christ's passion. Hence this sacrament was by some ancients termed a sacrifice, viz. representative and commemorative, but not properly, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink _this_ cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Ver. 27. _Shall be guilty_] Because they profane the holy symbols and pledges of Christ's blessed body and blood. These are in some sense as guilty as those tha... [ Continue Reading ]
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of _that_ bread, and drink of _that_ cup. Ver. 28. _Let a man examine_] A metaphor from metallaries or lapidists, as they try their metals or precious stones, and do it exactly, that they be not cozened; so here, men must make an exact scrutiny. _... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. Ver. 29. _For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily_] He saith not unworthy (for so we are all), but unworthily, that is, unpreparedly, for a good work may be spoiled in the doing,... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause many _are_ weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Ver. 30. _Many are weak_] The mortality at Corinth began at God's house, and that for unworthy communicating. God will be sanctified of all that draw near to him. He loves to be acquainted with men in the walks of their obedience,... [ Continue Reading ]
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Ver. 31. _We should not be judged_] God should be prevented, and the devil put out of office, as having nothing to say against us, but what we have said before. Let us therefore up and be doing at this most needful but much neglected work of... [ Continue Reading ]
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Ver. 32. _That we should not, &c._] _Ferre minora volo, ne graviora feram._ I to bear the lesser punishments so that I will not bear the heavier ones.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. Ver. 33. _Wherefore, my brethren_] He that reproveth and adviseth not, doth as it were snuff the lamp and not pour in oil.... [ Continue Reading ]