College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Corinthians 11 - Introduction
Butler's Comments
Chapter Eleven
THE PROBLEM OF DISORDERLY WORSHIP
IDEAS TO INVESTIGATE:
1.
Why would order in worship be a problem to Christians?
2.
What do head-coverings have to do with proper worship?
3.
Is it really degrading for a man to have long hair?
4.
Must there be factions in the church in order to find out who the genuine believers are?
5.
Does eating meals in the church building profane the Lord's house?
6.
What is eating the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner?
7.
What is eating and drinking without discerning the body?
APPLICATIONS:
1.
Have you ever thought about what worship is? Is it all feeling? Do you worship when you attend church services?
2.
Should women wear head coverings today when they go to church? Do you? Why do Jewish men wear head coverings in the synagogue?
3.
What about women cutting their hair in modern society? Shouldn-'t they let it grow to its full, natural length?
4.
As a woman, do you believe you should be subordinate to a husband? As a man, do you believe you should rule over your wife?
5.
If you were asked to make a decision about whether young men should wear long hair or not, what would you decide? Why? How long is long?
6.
Would you compromise Paul's teaching here on hierarchy or order within the earthly kingdom of God should it become a matter of contention?
7.
What would you answer a member of a denominational church who said 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 teaches there should be denominations in Christianity?
8.
Is it forbidden to have meals and eat in the church building?
9.
Do you think of yourself as being locked into a covenant with God? What is the basis of your covenant? What are its terms?
10.
How often do you think we should observe the Lord's Supper? Would you object to or appreciate observing it more than once a week?
11.
Have you ever thought of your partaking of the Lord's Supper as a proclamation by you? To whom do you make your proclamation?
12.
Do you ever feel like you are unworthy to take the Lord's Supper? When? If you had committed a terrible sin on Saturday, should you partake on Sunday?
13.
Have you ever partaken of the Supper without having discerned the body?
14.
What do you think is necessary for a congregation to be partaking of the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner?
APPREHENSIONS:
1.
What is the apostolic tradition? Why should we obey apostolic tradition if Jesus condemned the traditions of the Pharisees? (See Matthew 15:1-20.)
2.
What is worship?
3.
Why is Paul discussing such insignificant things as veils on women and long hair on men in connection with worship? What is the fundamental issue he is discussing?
4.
What is the proper order of hierarchy in the home? Where is the man's position? What is the woman's role?
5.
Why does a man dishonor God by covering his head as he worships?
6.
Why is the Bible so explicit about the feminine and masculine roles?
7.
What does Paul mean when he says, we recognize no other practice, nor do the churches of God?
8.
Why did Paul say, ... there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized?
9.
What specific faction is Paul talking about in this context?
10.
Were Christians actually getting drunk just before the worship service?
11.
How often are we to observe the Lord's Supper?
12.
Is the ritual of the Supper our covenant?
13.
What were these Corinthians doing that Paul accused them of partaking of the Supper in an unworthy manner?
14.
What is discerning the body?
Applebury's Comments
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Analysis
A.
The apostle gives instructions to be observed by man or woman when praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:1-16).
1.
He requests them to imitate him (1 Corinthians 11:1). Note: This, in all probability, belongs to the thought of chapter ten. The apostle sets the example of limitation of Christian liberty and urges the Corinthians to follow it as he is following the example of Christ.
2.
He approaches this new problem with words of praise for remembering him and the oral messages he had delivered to them (1 Corinthians 11:2).
3.
He gives additional instruction about covering the head when praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:3-10).
a)
He wants them to know the principle that is involved (1 Corinthians 11:3).
(1)
The head of every man is Christ;
(2)
The head of woman is man;
(3)
The head of Christ is God.
b)
He points out the result of failing to observe this principle (1 Corinthians 11:4-6).
(1)
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
(2)
Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.
(a)
It would be the same thing as if she were shaven, for if a woman is not veiled, he says, Let her be shorn.
(b)
But since it a shameful thing for a woman to be shorn or shaven, he says, Let her be veiled.
c)
He then shows why a man ought not to have his head veiled (1 Corinthians 11:7).
(1)
He is the image and glory of God.
(2)
Woman, on the other hand, is the glory of man.
d)
He appeals to the origin of man and woman and God's purpose in creating them to support his position (1 Corinthians 11:8-9).
(1)
Their origin:
(a)
Man is not of woman.
(b)
Woman is of man.
(2)
God's purpose in creating them:
(a)
Man was not created for woman.
(b)
Woman was created for man.
e)
He presents his conclusion based on this reasoning (1 Corinthians 11:10).
(1)
Woman should have on her head the veil which is a symbol of her right and dignity as woman.
(2)
This is to be observed because of the angels.
4.
He indicates other factors that have to do with the relationship of man and woman in order to avoid misunderstanding of what he had just said (1 Corinthians 11:11-16).
a)
He reminds them that neither man nor woman is independent of the other (1 Corinthians 11:11).
b)
He recalls the facts of creation and birth (1 Corinthians 11:12).
(1)
The woman was created for the man.
(2)
The man is born of the woman.
(3)
All things are of Goda thing to remember as to the distinction between man and woman.
c)
He appeals to their own judgment in the matter: Is it proper for a woman to pray unto God with her head uncovered (1 Corinthians 11:13)?
d)
He appeals to nature to support his position (1 Corinthians 11:14-15).
(1)
If a man has long hair (which makes him appear to be a woman) it dishonors him, does it not?
(2)
On the other hand, if a woman has long hair (which points out her womanly dignity) it is a glory to her, for her hair was given her for a covering.
e)
He indicates to those who might still want to argue the point that what he has said is the custom that is observed by the churches of God (1 Corinthians 11:16).
B.
He turns his attention to the problems which they faced in connection with observing the Lord's supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
1.
He refused to commend them because of these conditions which made it impossible for them to eat the Lord's supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
a)
Their coming together was not for the better but for the worse (1 Corinthians 11:17).
b)
He points out that divisions existed among them (1 Corinthians 11:18-19).
(1)
He had heard that divisions existed among them when they assembled and had reason to believe that such was true with part of them (1 Corinthians 11:18).
(2)
He pointed out that divisions were accompanied with factions that resulted in the approved among them being manifested (1 Corinthians 11:19).
c)
He indicated the tragic result of this situation: It was not possible for them to eat the Lord's supper, for each one of them ate his own which resulted in some going hungry while others were drunken (1 Corinthians 11:20-21).
d)
He severely rebuked them for this by asking a series of questions (1 Corinthians 11:22).
(1)
You have houses to eat and drink in, do you not?
(2)
Do you despise the church of God and put to shame those who have nothing?
(3)
As if puzzled about what to do, he asks, What shall I say to you?
(4)
Shall I praise you? His answer: In this I praise you not.
2.
He explained the purpose of the Lord's supper as he had received it from the Lord and delivered it to them (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
a)
He points out the source of his information which he had passed on to them.
b)
He points out what the Lord did and said about the loaf and the cup.
(1)
Time: It was on the night of His betrayal.
(2)
The bread: He took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it and said, This is my body which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.
(3)
The cup:
(a)
This was after the supper.
(b)
He said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
(c)
He said, This do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
c)
The apostle adds this inspired information: As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death till He come.
3.
He points out the penalty for failing to decide correctly the issues involved in the Lord's supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-34 a)
a)
As to eating the bread and drinking the cup.
(1)
Doing it in unworthy manner results in being guilty of mishandling the body and blood of Christ.
(2)
Let a man examine himself and so let him eat.
b)
As to correctly judging the body.
(1)
Failure to do so results in eating judgment to oneself.
(2)
Failure to do so resulted in many of them being weak, sickly, and not a few were dead.
c)
How to avoid such judgment:
(1)
By correctly judging themselves.
(2)
By remembering that the chastening of the Lord keeps His people from being condemned with the world.
(3)
Wait one for another and let the hungry eat at home.
4.
He reminds them that he will attend to the rest of the problems when he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:34 b).
Questions
1.
What is the subject of this chapter?
2.
What did Paul have in mind when he asked the Corinthians to imitate him?
3.
Why could he do this?
4.
What can be said of Paul's expression of praise for his readers?
5.
What are some of the complimentary things that Paul said about the church at Corinth?
6.
What evidence is there that they remembered what he taught?
7.
What is meant by traditions?
8.
What two classes of traditions may be found in the New Testament?
9.
What is the three-fold statement of the principle of headship which Paul wanted them to understand?
10.
How is the word head used in this context?
11.
What are the possible meanings of the term?
12.
What is the clearly indicated lesson of this paragraph?
13.
Does the Bible say that man is superior to woman?
14.
What lesson does Paul teach in Ephesians as to the relation of husband and wife?
15.
What may be said about the view that he is discussing the same relationship in this context?
16.
What is the difference between praying and prophesying?
17.
Under what influence did men and women prophesy in the early church?
18.
What is the issue involved in the discussion in this chapter?
19.
What limitation is placed on the activity of woman according to Paul's teaching in 1 Timothy 2:12?
20.
What was the reason for this limitation?
21.
What evidence is given in the New Testament to show that woman prophesied?
22.
What did Paul say about the task of aged women?
23.
Where is all distinction such as male and female, bond and free removed?
24.
What was wrong about a woman praying with her head uncovered?
25.
What lesson does the apostle draw from the fact that man was created first and then woman?
26.
Why did he say that a woman who left off the veil had just as well cut her hair and be shaved?
27.
Should this custom be observed today?
28.
What are the various view of the expression, for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head?
29.
What did this have to do with the angels?
30.
Why did Paul call attention to the birth of man as well as to the fact of his creation?
31.
Why did he say, All things are of God?
32.
What lesson did nature teach that had a bearing on the subject of this chapter?
33.
Why did he say, we have no such custom?
34.
Why did Paul withhold his praise in the matter of eating the Lord's supper?
35.
To what does the word church refer?
36.
What was taking place in the assembly that Paul condemned?
37.
What did Paul mean when he said, I partly believe it?
38.
What may also be expected when divisions are present in the church?
39.
Who are the approved in the church?
40.
What caused them to be manifested in the church at Corinth?
41.
When was the church to come together?
42.
What was to be done at that time?
43.
What was the custom at Corinth that led to the neglect of the Lord's supper?
44.
Is it wrong to eat in the church building?
45.
Why did Paul remind them that he received from the Lord the instructions which he gave them?
46.
What was the old covenant?
47.
Why was it necessary to make a new covenant?
48.
What is the new covenant?
49.
What does the Lord's supper call upon the worshiper to remember?
50.
What do the Scriptures teach about the coming of Christ?
51.
Should one refrain from taking the Lord's supper because of a feeling of unworthiness?
52.
To what does unworthy manner refer?
53.
What should be done about the awareness of guilt as one approaches the Lord's supper?
54.
What is meant by discern the body?
55.
What is meant by discerned ourselves?
56.
What chastisement had befallen the church at Corinth?
57.
Why does the Lord chasten His people?
58.
What would Paul need to do upon his next visit to Corinth?
For Discussion
1.
What effect should the proper observance of the Lord's supper have on the life of the church?
2.
What effect should the awareness of the coming of Christ have on the life and work of the church?
3.
What can be done to make these great issues effective in the life of the church?