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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:3

I would have you know — He does not seem to have given them any order before concerning this. The head of every man — Particularly every believer. Is Christ, and the head of Christ is God — Christ, as he is Mediator, acts in all things subordinately to his Father. But we can no more infer that they... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:4

Every man praying or prophesying — Speaking by the immediate power of God. With his head — And face. Covered — Either with a veil or with long hair. Dishonoureth his head — St. Paul seems to mean, As in these eastern nations veiling the head is a badge of subjection, so a man who prays or prophesies... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:5

But every woman — Who, under an immediate impulse of the Spirit, (for then only was a woman suffered to speak in the church,) prays or prophesies without a veil on her face, as it were disclaims subjection, and reflects dishonour on man, her head. For it is the same, in effect, as if she cut her hai... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:6

Therefore if a woman is not covered — If she will throw off the badge of subjection, let her appear with her hair cut like a man's. But if it be shameful far a woman to appear thus in public, especially in a religious assembly, let her, for the same reason, keep on her veil.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:7

A man indeed ought not to veil his head, because he is the image of God — In the dominion he bears over the creation, representing the supreme dominion of God, which is his glory. But the woman is only matter of glory to the man, who has a becoming dominion over her. Therefore she ought not to appea... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:10

For this cause also a woman ought to be veiled in the public assemblies, because of the angels — Who attend there, and before whom they should be careful not to do anything indecent or irregular.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:12

And as the woman was at first taken out of the man, so also the man is now, in the ordinary course of nature, by the woman; but all things are of God — The man, the woman, and their dependence on each other.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:13

Judge of yourselves — For what need of more arguments if so plain a case? Is it decent for a woman to pray to God — The Most High, with that bold and undaunted air which she must have, when, contrary to universal custom, she appears in public with her head uncovered?... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:16

We have no such custom here, nor any of the other churches of God — The several churches that were in the apostles' time had different customs in things that were not essential; and that under one and the same apostle, as circumstances, in different places, made it convenient. And in all things mere... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:18

In the church — In the public assembly. I hear there are schisms among you; and I partly believe it — That is, I believe it of some of you. It is plain that by schisms is not meant any separation from the church, but uncharitable divisions in it; for the Corinthians continued to be one church; and,... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:19

There must be heresies — Divisions. Among you — In the ordinary course of things; and God permits them, that it may appear who among you are, and who are not, upright of heart.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:20

Therefore — That is, in consequence of those schisms. It is not eating the Lord's supper — That solemn memorial of his death; but quite another thing.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:21

For in eating what ye call the Lord's supper, instead of all partaking of one bread, each person brings his own supper, and eats it without staying for the rest. And hereby the poor, who cannot provide for themselves, have nothing; while the rich eat and drink to the full just as the heathens use to... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:22

Have ye not houses to eat and drink your common meals in? or do ye despise the church of God — Of which the poor are both the larger and the better part. Do ye act thus in designed contempt of them?... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:24

This is my body, which is broken for you — That is, this broken bread is the sign of my body, which is even now to be pierced and wounded for your iniquities. Take then, and eat of, this bread, in an humble, thankful, obediential remembrance of my dying love; of the extremity of my sufferings on you... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:25

After supper — Therefore ye ought not to confound this with a common meal. Do this in remembrance of me — The ancient sacrifices were in remembrance of sin: this sacrifice, once offered, is still represented in remembrance of the remission of sins.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:27

Whosoever shall eat this bread unworthily — That is, in an unworthy, irreverent manner; without regarding either Him that appointed it, or the design of its appointment. Shall be guilty of profaning that which represents the body and blood of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:28

But let a man examine himself — Whether he know the nature and the design of the institution, and whether it be his own desire and purpose throughly to comply therewith.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:29

For he that eateth and drinketh so unworthily as those Corinthians did, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself — Temporal judgments of various kinds, 1 Corinthians 11:30. Not distinguishing the sacred tokens of the Lord's body — From his common food.... [ Continue Reading ]

1 Corinthians 11:31

If we would judge ourselves — As to our knowledge, and the design with which we approach the Lord's table. We should not be thus judged — That is, punished by God.... [ Continue Reading ]

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