10.1 Our ancestors, the Israelites. On the cloud and the sea, see Ex 13.21–22; 14.22; Ps 105.39; Wis 19.7–8.
10.2 Baptized, an expression that derives from Christian practice, not from the Jewish scriptures on which Paul is drawing in this passage.
10.3 Spiritual food, i.e., manna; see Ex 16.4, 35; Deut 8.3; Ps 78.24–25.
10.4 On spiritual drink, see Ex 17.6; Num 20.7–11; Ps 78.15–16. Although the OT says nothing about a rock that followed the Israelites in the wilderness, a later rabbinic tradition did say this about a well (see Num 21.16–18). Since Paul identifies the rock with Christ, he probably views the Israelites’ eating and drinking as a kind of Lord’s Supper (see vv. 16–17).
10.5 On the punishment in the wilderness, see Num 14.16, 29–30; Ps 78.30–31; Heb 3.17; Jude 5.
10.6 Desiring evil. See Num 11.4–6, 34; Ps 106.14–15.
10.7 The people…play. Ex 32.6.
10.8 Cf. Num 25.1–9.
10.9 To the test. See Ps 78.18; also Deut 6.16; Isa 7.12; Ps 106.14; Bar 4.7; Mt 4.7; Lk 4.12; Acts 15.10. Destroyed by serpents. Cf. Num 21.5–6.
10.10 Some of them alludes to the Israelites who complained against Moses in the wilderness; e.g., Ex 16.2–3; Num 14.2, 36. Destroyer, some avenging angel; see also Ex 12.23; 2 Sam 24.16; 1 Chr 21.15; Wis 18.20–25; Heb 11.28.
10.11 The ends of the ages, the last days before the Lord’s return; see 1.7–8; 2.7; 7.26, 29–31; also Dan 12.13; 2 Esd 11.44.
10.12 Addressed to those in Corinth who are heedless of the weak (e.g., 8.9–11).
10.13 God is faithful. See 1.9.
10.14 Worship of idols. See 8.4; 12.2; also 1 Jn 5.21.
10.15 Judge for yourselves. Cf. 11.13.
10.16–17 The Lord’s Supper (see also 11.17–34) is described as a sharing both with Christ (see 1.9) and with other believers (see also Phil 1.5; Philem 6). The blood of Christ. Cf. 11.25, 27. The body of Christ. Cf. 11.24, 27, 29. The bread that we break. Cf. 11.24. Paul develops the image of the church as one body in 12.12–27 (see also Rom 12.4–8).
10.18 Partners in the altar. See 9.13; also Lev 7.6, 15.
10.20 Demons, the “so-called gods” (8.4–5) of which pagan idols are representations; see also Deut 32.17; Ps 106.37; Bar 4.7; Rev 9.20.
10.21 The Lord, Christ (as in v. 16); see also 2 Cor 6.15.
10.22 Given the statements in vv. 9, 21 (and despite an allusion to Deut 32.21), the Lord almost certainly refers to Christ.
10.23–11.1 The discussion opened in 8.1 is brought to a conclusion.
10.23 As in 6.12–13 (see also 7.1), Paul cites and corrects Corinthian slogans. Beneficial. See also 6.12; 7.35; 10.33; 12.7. Build up. See 8.1.
10.24 Cf. 10.33; 13.5; Phil 2.3–4; Rom 15.1–3.
10.25 A meat market often sold cuts that had come from pagan temples. Conscience. See 8.7; 10.27–29.
10.26 Ps 24.1. See also Pss 50.12; 89.11; Ex 19.5; Deut 10.14.
10.27 A meal, either in a private home or in a public eating place (probably not in a pagan temple, as in 8.10).
10.28 Someone. Whether Paul thinks of another Christian or of a nonbeliever remains unclear. This has been offered in sacrifice, lit. “This is sacred food” (see note on 8.1).
10.29–30 Paul’s questions (as translated here) seem to qualify the counsel of v. 28, but may represent objections by an imagined dialogue partner. Yet Paul’s difficult logic has occasioned various interpretations.
10.30 With thankfulness, for what God has provided (10.26); see Rom 14.6; 1 Tim 4.3–4; but also 1 Cor 14.17.
10.31 For the glory of God. See also 6.20.
10.32 Give no offense, do not hinder anyone from coming to or growing in faith; see also 8.9, 13; Rom 14.13.
10.33 Please everyone, not in place of pleasing God (see 7.32–34; Gal 1.10; 1 Thess 2.4), but in place of seeking only one’s own advantage; see v. 24; 9.19–23. That they may be saved. See 9.22.
1 Corinthians 11
Head Coverings
2I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you. 3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husbanda is the head of his wife,b and God is the head of Christ. 4Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, 5but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 6For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. 7For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflectionc of God; but woman is the reflectiond of man. 8Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 10For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol ofe authority on her head,f because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God. 13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? 14Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, 15but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
Abuses at the Lord’s Supper
17Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. 19Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine. 20When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
23For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is forg you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Partaking of the Supper Unworthily
27Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord. 28Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For all who eat and drinkh without discerning the body,i eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.j 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplinedk so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33So then, my brothers and sisters,l when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.
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a The same Greek word means man or husband
b Or head of the woman
c Or glory
d Or glory
e Gk lacks a symbol of
f Or have freedom of choice regarding her head
g Other ancient authorities read is broken for
h Other ancient authorities add in an unworthy manner,
i Other ancient authorities read the Lord’s body
j Gk f
allen asleep
k Or When we are judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord
l Gk brothers
11.1 Be imitators of me. See 4.16.
11.2–16 As in the following sections (vv. 17–34; chs. 12–14), Paul counsels the Corinthians about how to conduct themselves when assembled for worship.
11.3 Christ is the head. See also 3.23 (and Eph 1.22; 4.15; 5.23; Col 1.18; 2.10, 19). Some interpreters believe that head here connotes “source” (see v. 12) as well as (or rather than) superiority. The husband is the head. See also Gen 3.16; Eph 5.23. Paul may not be thinking specifically of marital relationships; see text notes a and b. God is the head of Christ. See also 3.23; 15.28.
11.4 Prays or prophesies, when the congregation is gathered for worship. On prophecy, see 12.10; 14.1–5. In Paul’s day Jewish males did not wear any special head covering, even in the synagogue.
11.5 Unveiled, or more generally “uncovered,” perhaps with loose, flowing hair (typically associated with promiscuous women or priestesses of pagan cults).
11.7 Image…of God. See Gen 1.26–27; 5.1; Wis 2.23; Sir 17.3; also 2 Cor 4.4, 6; Col 1.15; Heb 1.3. Woman…of man is explained in 11.8–9.
11.8 Woman from man. See Gen 2.21–23; see also 1 Tim 2.13.
11.9 Woman for the sake of man. See Gen 2.18.
11.10 There is no scholarly consensus about the translation of this verse (see text notes d and e) or about its interpretation. The angels (see also 4.9; 6.3; 13.1), probably not to be identified with the “sons of God” mentioned in Gen 6.2.
11.11 In the Lord, in Christ, thus among Christians. Not independent of man…of woman suggests mutuality (see also 7.3–4), and some interpreters believe equality as well.
11.12 Man comes through woman, because women bear the children. All things come from God. See 3.21–23; 8.6; 10.26; 11.3; Rom 11.36.
11.13 Judge for yourselves. Cf. 10.15.
11.14 Nature, perhaps what the culture of the day regarded as the created characteristics that differentiate male and female.
11.16 The churches of God, Paul’s other congregations.
11.17–22 The discussion that begins here extends through v. 34.
11.17 When you come together. It is likely that there were several house churches in Corinth, and that they occasionally met together to observe the Lord’s Supper. The following instructions are not about the conduct of the liturgy as such, but about the conduct of the congregation at the time of the liturgy. I do not commend you. Cf. v. 2.
11.18 Divisions. Some interpreters believe that these were caused by rivalries that had developed among the various Corinthian house churches (see note on 11.17; also 1.10–13; 12.25).
11.19 Paul’s comment on factions may reflect the Jewish and early Christian expectation that the close of history would be preceded by various kinds of strife and suffering; see, e.g., 7.26; Mt 10.34–36; Mk 13; 2 Pet 2.1.
11.20–21 The Pauline congregations combined their ritual observance of Jesus’ last supper (see Mk 14.17–26) with their own community meal.
11.20 Not really to eat the Lord’s supper. Paul indicates in vv. 23–26 what a genuine Lord’s Supper involves.
11.21 Goes ahead with your own supper. Apparently some members of the congregation ate up the provisions they themselves had brought without waiting for all to arrive and then sharing with the assembly as a whole.
11.22 The church of God. See 1.2. Those who have nothing, the poorer members of the congregation (see 12.24–26; also Jas 2.6).
11.23–26 Paul repeats and comments on the words with which, according to tradition, Jesus at his last supper distributed bread and wine; see also 10.16–17; Mt 26.26–29; Mk 14.22–25; Lk 22.15–20.
11.23 I received…what I also handed on identifies the following as drawn from the Lord not directly, but by way of the church’s tradition (see also 15.3). Betrayed, by Judas Iscariot (see Mk 14.43–46).
11.24 Thanks. Jewish meals customarily began with the blessing and distribution of the bread. For you, either “for your sake” or “in your place.”
11.25 The cup, of wine (see 10.16). After supper. See also Lk 22.20. This phrase suggests that the ritual acts with bread and cup were customarily separated by an ordinary community meal. New covenant. See also Jer 31.31; 32.40; Lk 22.20; 2 Cor 3.6; Heb 8.6–13; 9.15–20. Blood seals and thus symbolizes the covenant; see Ex 24.8; Zech 9.11; Heb 9.12; 13.20; also Rom 3.25; 5.9.
11.26 Paul interprets the tradition he has just cited by accentuating Christ’s saving death (see 15.3–5) and expected return (see 1.7–8).
11.27–34 The discussion begun in v. 17 is concluded with some sober warnings and earnest appeals.
11.27 An unworthy manner. See v. 29.
11.28 Examine yourselves. See also 2 Cor 13.5; Gal 6.4.
11.29 When believers neither discern nor are concerned for one another’s needs, Christ’s body (see 10.16–17; 12.12–13) is being disregarded and violated (cf. 8.12).
11.30 How many and who were ill or had died is unknown. These illnesses and deaths are interpreted as the consequence of disorders within the congregation.
11.31 If we judged ourselves involves a wordplay, since the Greek term translated judged can also be rendered discerned, as in v. 29.
11.32 The Lord, probably Christ, as in the liturgical tradition (v. 23). The world, non-Christians.
11.33–34 See vv. 21–22.
11.33 Wait for one another may suggest that the poorer members always had to arrive late for congregational meals; the verb here could also be translated “accept” or “welcome.” Cf. 8.11–13; 12.25.
11.34 What the other things were is unknown. When I come. See 4.19–21; 16.5–9.
1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts
1Now concerning spiritual gifts,a brothers and sisters,b I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
One Body with Many Members
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and ou
r less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
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a Or spiritual persons
b Gk brothers
12.1–11 Paul’s comments about spiritual gifts, introduced here, continue through ch. 14. In particular, he is concerned to correct the view that speaking in tongues somehow demonstrates the higher spiritual status of those who are thus graced.
12.1 Now concerning. See note on 8.1. Spiritual gifts. The form of the Greek word used here can mean either “spiritual things” or spiritual persons (see text note f). Which of these is adopted makes little difference; in either case Paul’s focus in chs. 12–14 is on how gifts like “tongues” should be evaluated.
12.2 Pagans, gentile nonbelievers. Idols that could not speak. See 8.4–6; 10.6–14; also Pss 115.4–7; 135.15–17; Isa 46.7; Hab 2.18–19; 3 Macc 4.16.
12.3 The Spirit of God. See 2.12. It is unclear whether Paul actually knew of persons who said, Let Jesus be cursed! Jesus is Lord was one of the church’s earliest creedal affirmations; see also 8.6; Rom 10.9; 2 Cor 4.5; Phil 2.11.
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