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Have you ever met someone who loves to argue? Some people just love to get into a good debate or argument. Those people tend to stir people up and cause divisions. The apostle Paul mentions these people in his letter to the Corinthian church, in 1 Corinthians 11:19.
1 Corinthians 11:19 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
The church ought not be accustom to debates. Arguments and divisions should not be a regular occurrence when you go to church. More often than not, these divisions and debates will be fueled by one or two people. Verse 19 uses the Greek word philoneikos for contentious, and it refers to someone who loves a debate. This is a person who starts a debate whenever he gets the chance. This does not say that there should be no debate within the church. But to be in constant turmoil and dissatisfaction is not what the Lord would have us to welcome in our churches. In Romans 16, we are told to “mark those” who cause division.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
Christians serve a God Who gives us good gifts. He watches out over us and sometimes without us even asking will provide us with things that we need. As I studied 1 Corinthians 11:13-15, I was reminded of some of how God has promised to take care of us. These three verses in 1 Corinthians 11 shows us how God is looking out for our personal needs.
1 Corinthians 11:13-15 “Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”
When I studied these verses, I tried to go beyond what Paul is telling the Corinthians about head covering and long hair. I believe in all the Bible there is a spiritual lesson for all of us. And there is a lesson here which we can learn from. I will point out a couple phrases from these verses.
1. …for her hair is given her for a covering.
2. Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
3. Doth not even nature itself teach you…
4. …if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her
The first phrase stood out to me. For her hair is given.
Who is it given by?
It is given to her by God. Ladies, your hair is given to you by God. It is a gift from God to you. It is not something we specifically prayed for or asked for. It is given to you without you even asking. It was given to you when God created the world and set nature into motion.
Why is it given?
It is given her for a covering.
Why would God want you to have a covering?
“Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” This is a rhetorical question to which the answer is no. It is comely, acceptable, and honorable for a woman to pray to God covered.
A woman’s hair was given to her as a gift so she can pray unto God in a becoming way. It is given so she can go to God in prayer with the glory which God has given to her (if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her). Such wonderful gifts which God gives to us, even when we don’t ask for them.
Remember in Luke 11 how God the Father is described.
Luke 11:11-13 “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
When a man and a woman are united in marriage in the eyes of God, they are seen in God’s eyes as one, and inseparable. Paul describes this unity in his discussion of the hierarchy which God has established.
1 Corinthians 11:11,12 “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Paul mentions this in relation to the leadership roles which God has established. As described in verse 3: the man is the head of the woman; Christ is the head of the man; and God the Father is the head of Christ. But in verse 11, Paul points that although the man has the leadership role in the family, that the husband and wife are not separate from one another. The husband is not complete without the wife; the wife is not complete without the husband.
Remembering back to verse 3, Paul says that the husband is the head of the wife in the same way that God the Father is the Head of Christ. When you are married, the marriage is not without both the husband and wife. The trinity is not complete without Jesus Christ. The fact that the Father is the Head of Christ does not mean that Christ is below the Father, but that Christ followed the Will and Direction of the Father. Christ was guided by the Father even though both Christ and God the Father jointly form the Godhead, with the Holy Spirit.
Back to verses 11 and 12, Paul reminds us that although the man is the head of the woman, that does not imply that the woman is somehow beneath the man no more than Christ is beneath the Father. It also does not imply that the woman is powerless no more than it implies that Christ is powerless. There is a parallel between Christ and God the Father, and a husband and wife.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
Our appearance is an outward reflection of our inward reverence for the Lord. Paul has been writing in 1 Corinthians 11 about modesty and how it reflects on yourself and the person who God has made responsible for you. Verse 10 adds another dimension.
1 Corinthians 11:10 “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”
First, lets look at some of the background which led up to this verse. Paul is talking about modesty and appearance when you “pray or prophesy” which I believe he means our conduct within the church. So inside the church is the setting for this verse. So this verse tells us when a woman is in church, she ought to have power on her head because of angels.
How would a woman have power on her head? Paul has been referring to head coverings in the verses leading up to this verse. And that is why I began this post the way I did. The head covering was an article of modesty at the time, and an outward reflection of the heart. It symbolized where her heart was, in reverence to her husband who was a follower of Jesus Christ (which makes her a follower of Jesus Christ). If you mimic Jesus Christ in your life, you will have that power which Paul refers to in verse 10. The original Greek word which Paul used is sometimes translated as power in the English, but sometimes is also translated as authority. To follow Christ through the example of your husband is not putting you in a weak position, but in a powerful and authoritative position. How so?
The rest of the verse says this power should be on her head “because of the angels.” What are angels? There are two types of angels: good and evil. The good angels minister to us. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:2 that some people have entertained angels without knowing they were angels. Then there are evil angels, or demons. These are followers of Satan who would like nothing better than to destroy a Christian. The Bible refers to the devil as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour. A lion goes for the weakest of the herd, and the one with the least amount of power. Keeping in mind that angels and demons are not all-knowing (that only God is), how is a demon to know who is weak and who has power? The outward appearance would be one way of knowing!
I believe this is the essence of what Paul is telling us. For our own benefit and for the glorification of the Lord, we ought to be strong Christians not only in heart but in appearance.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
In 1 Corinthians 11:3-15, Paul writes about our obligation to who God has established as our “head”. In verse 3, Paul identifies who our head is:
1 Corinthians 11:3 “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.”
To each person God has put someone as their head, or someone who is responsible for leading that person. As we go through these verses, lets keep in mind an important point which is easy to miss. Paul is writing to the Corinthian church regarding some very specific issues, as he did in chapter 10. As we read this epistle today, we look for things which we can apply to our Christian life. That may seem obvious, but it is easy to get drawn into a debate over headwear and the like in the same way it would be to debate over eating meat offered to idols.
Each person has someone who is their “head”. The head of the man is Christ. The head of the woman is the man. The head of Christ is God the Father. Christ has fulfilled His responsibilities, but we have not fulfilled all of ours. Being the head of someone else brings with it a lot of responsibility. God will hold us accountable for how we lead others who we are the head of. Likewise, God will hold us accountable for how we treat those who are the head of us. Paul explains this in verses 4 and 5:
1 Corinthians 11:4,5 “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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.”
When Paul uses the phrase “dishonoureth his head”, he’s referring not to his physical head, but the head of that person who he pointed out in verse 3. I pointed out earlier how easy it is to focus on the head-covering portion of these verses. I believe we are wrong to do that. What we need to focus on is the personal application to our lives, that being that God expects men to conduct themselves in such a way so as not to bring dishonor or shame on Christ. Likewise, the head covering of the woman was there to present herself as modest. Ladies should not conduct themselves in such a way as to dishonor or shame their husband. The man has the requirement from God to live his life in a way that leads his wife closer to God. The woman is to live her life by her husbands example so long as he fulfills his spiritual obligation by following Christ; and she is not to shame or dishonor him.
In verses 6 through 9, Paul elaborates on the responsibility that we have for those who God has placed as our head.
1 Corinthians 11:6-9 “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. 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. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.”
Remember not to get caught up in the head covering aspect of these verses. You can debate all day and not solve the issue. The point Paul is making he makes to the Corinthian church. But being part of the Bible its lesson applies to the whole world. The lesson for us is that women are to dress in a modest way when she prays, and not to bring shame on her husband. Men ought to live their lives to reveal the image and glory of God. Men are to show the glory of God with their lives and not keep it hidden.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
Beginning in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul explains to the Corinthian church the Biblical hierarchy which God has set up. I have heard people quote this passage out of context on more than one occasion. I’ve read commentaries which I don’t necessarily agree with either. I hope in the coming days to let you know what I understand this passage to convey.
First, Paul says something to set up what he will be writing about in the following verses. In other words, what he says in verse 1 is an introduction to what he is going to say in the following verses. So lets look at verse 1.
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
At first glance, this is a pretty bold statement by Paul. When I first read this, I read it as saying “follow me and I will lead you to Christ.” But that is not quite what he’s saying. There’s a little two letter word in there that makes the Corinthians following him conditional. In other words, they are only to follow Paul if a certain condition is met. The word is “as”. He saying to the Corinthians, “Follow me as long as I follow Christ.” Another passage comes to mind where there is a condition stated. Remember this part of the Lord’s Prayer?
Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Jesus was saying in this verse that we should ask God to forgive us as long as we forgive others who have wronged us.
Paul is asking the Corinthian church to follow him as long as he follows Christ.
In the verses which follow 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul lays out the hierarchy that God has established. This order is God’s perfect plan as long as we stay within His Will. It works perfectly as long as we keep ourselves free of sin and remain close to the Lord. Once any person in this chain falls into sin, the chain is destroyed and doesn’t work as God intended. Each person in this chain has certain expectations which God has for them, and responsibilities which God expects them to fulfill.
Let’s look at Paul for example. He says in verse 1 for the Corinthian church to follow him. What a great responsibility to fulfill! Being the person who has many people following him makes him responsible for their success or failure. Likewise, when God says in chapter 10 for us to be good examples of what Christians are, we have a great responsibility on us. We can, with our lives, either bring people to Christ or to lead them from Christ. We can either show the lost world what a true Christian is, or confirm the false impression what they’ve seen on television. Let’s live our lives where it will lead others closer to the Lord.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 11, follow this link.
How often do we think to ourselves, “Will this thing I do bring praise to the Lord?” Speaking for myself, not as often as I should. We have a tendency many times to do what is best for us. We live in a very materialistic world where there’s great concern if we don’t have “things” or we aren’t entertained some how. And when we think of charity, how often do we think of a charitable act as giving money to someone when it is their soul that needs the Charity of God? Not that charitable giving is wrong; on the contrary. We ought to give money to those in need. But understanding that Christian living can’t be boiled down to how much money we give. Nor can Christianity be summarized by how just our good intentions are.
Paul gets down to “brass tacks” in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 10. As Christians, everything we do should promote the honor and praise of God. Let’s look at the final three verses.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
Paul has been talking specifically to the Corinthians church about eating meat which had been offered to idols. But here in verse 31 he clarifies that that was just an example of how they ought to lead their whole lives. No matter what we eat or drink or whatever (encompassing everything) we do, make sure it glorifies the Lord. Try to think of these verses beyond financial aspect. Paul here is talking about charitable living, not charitable giving. In verse 33, Paul mentions profits. But he’s not talking about money. God doesn’t need your money when He asks for your tithe; he needs your heart and your willingness to follow Him. God parted the Red Sea without Moses taking up an offering.
Paul gives us a DO and a DON’T in verses 31 and 32.
Do glorify God with whatever you do.
Don’t block the road for those who God is calling (“give none offence”).
Paul talks about you causing “profits of many”. These are not material things but immaterial things. These are profits which you give with your life (things you choose to do, and things you choose not to do). Let’s make a more conscious effort to think of our lives as opportunities to bring others to Christ.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 10, follow this link.
In 1 Corinthians 10:25-29, Paul gives us an example of what he wrote in verses 23 and 24: that even though something may be appropriate for us to do, does not give us the liberty to do it if it harms and unsaved person. The example which Paul gives to the Corinthians involves eating meat which had been offered to idols. There was a dispute among people in the church whether it was appropriate for a Christian to eat meat which had been offered to false gods. Stronger Christians understood what Paul says in verse 26, that the earth was the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Weaker Christians thought that the meat had been somewhat cursed because of it’s prior offering. Stronger Christians were ordered to not eat this mean (in spite of nothing being wrong with the meat itself) for the sake of the weaker Christians. That goes hand in hand with Paul’s example of eating meat in the following verses.
1 Corinthians 10:25-29 “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast , and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?”
First, what is meant by shambles? This is what they called the meat market. Meats were brought here to be sold. Some of it had been offered to idols; other meat there had not. Paul says for the Corinthians to not make an issue of whether it is offered or not when they buy meat at the market, for conscience sake. Keep in mind when Paul says for conscience sake, he’s not referring to Christian conscience, but conscience of the lost world. He clarifies this in verse 29 when he says, “Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other…”
He goes further by telling them to refuse meat offered to him by and unsaved person, who tells him it had been offered. Although there would be nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, Paul tells the Corinthians “eat not” for the sake of the lost person who offered it. He was telling the Corinthians to do nothing which would harm the conscience of a lost person even if there is nothing in itself wrong with the act.
Thankfully, today not many of us have the decision regarding whether to eat meat offered to idols. So how do these verses apply to us? Think of the concept which Paul is asking the Corinthians to grasp. When you are deciding whether to do something or not, consider how the lost world will perceive it. Many times, we have a tendency to look at an act to see if there is anything wrong with it. How many times have we told ourselves and others, “there’s nothing wrong with doing this” and therefore you do it.
Your relationship with God is not the only thing you need to consider. How will the lost world see this, even if it is alright? I would imaging that most lost people have an idea of what a real Christian should be. In Paul’s day, the lost world thought Christians should not eat meat offered to idols. When we decide whether to do a thing or not, consider that others are watching. Christians are ambassadors of the kingdom of Heaven and need to conduct their lives so it positively reflects Jesus in the eyes of the lost. We should not do things which cause the lost world to be drawn farther from the Lord.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians 10, follow this link.
How often do we consider the impact on others when we make a decision? I’m of course referring to decisions in our Christian life. A lot of times we ask ourselves the question, “Is this alright for me to do?” or we ask, “If I did this, would I be committing a sin?” But Christianity goes beyond what is right and wrong for you. Living like a Christian means considering your impact on others, as perceived not by you but by them. In the final verses of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul talks to the Corinthian church about exactly this, and gives them several examples of how to apply this to their lives. First, lets skip all the way down to the end of the chapter, where Paul gives the reason for verses 23-32.
1 Corinthians 10:33 “Even as I please all men in all things , not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
So as we study verses 23 and so on, keep in the back of our mind that the purpose of why Paul is telling us these things, and the reason we do them is so “they may be saved”. In fact, we can add this to the end of some sentences for emphasis.
1 Corinthians 10:23,24 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”
When this verse refers to wealth, it’s not talking about money. It’s telling us to do things which are profitable for others.
Let’s add the purpose to that verse just so we keep it in the forefront of our mind:
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” “that they may be saved.”
Just because something may be alright for us to do does not mean we should do it. Our sins are forgiven and we are under the forgiving grace of God. But that is not the case for everyone. God’s forgiveness is not a license to do as we please. Some things we have a choice of doing are not profitable (as Paul phrases expedient). Some things are do not lift other people up (edify). When you decide on the questionable things of life, keep in mind that you live in a lost world, and people look to you for an example of what a true Christian is. Some things may be completely innocent but may cause some person to be further from the Lord. We need to avoid those things. Why? Remember verse 33 says, “…that they may be saved.”
Live your life as Christ; bring others closer to God with your life.
To learn more about 1 Corinthians chapter 10, follow this link.
Would you do injury or harm to the Lord Jesus Christ? It seems you would only do something like that if you hated the person. Yet, Paul asks a similar question of us in 1 Corinthians 10:22.
1 Corinthians 10:22 “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”
Paul didn’t explicitly say “injure” or “hurt” but that is the essence of the verse. Provoking someone is an action on your part which causes the harmed party (in this case, God) to react in some fashion. Paul had just said that we shouldn’t expect to be in God’s good graces if we sit at the table of the devil (in other words, to live our lives with unforgiven sin).
So many times we forget that sin has consequences. It impacts our own lives and the lives of those around us; but more importantly it impacts God. Committing sin is a provocation to God. It is a harmful act to Him. If we get away from God, we may forget that the sins we commit cause God to be jealous. He want’s to be the preeminent One in our lives. He wants it and He deserves it. When we do things which tell God He is not in that position, it provokes God into actions which are not pleasant for us.
As we make decisions in our lives, what to do and what not to do, let’s remember to do the things which are pleasing to the Lord. None of us should want to injure the Lord.
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