1 corinthians 11:17 - But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
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What does "1 corinthians 11:17" mean?
This verse from 1 Corinthians 11:17 is part of a longer passage where Paul is addressing problems within the Corinthian church, specifically related to their communal meals, which were associated with the Lord's Supper (Communion). Let's break down what it means:
"But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you...": Paul is introducing a corrective measure. He's about to address a behavior he finds problematic, and he makes it clear that he's not commending them for what they're doing.
"...that you come together not for the better but for the worse.": This is the core of the problem. When they gather as a church, instead of fostering unity, spiritual growth, and edification (coming together "for the better"), their gatherings are actually causing more harm and division ("for the worse").
In essence, Paul is rebuking the Corinthians because their gatherings are detrimental rather than beneficial to the church community.
Context Clues from the Surrounding Verses (Crucial for Understanding):
To fully understand the verse, it's essential to consider what follows:
Divisions: The context of 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 indicates that divisions (factions, cliques) were present when they came together.
Social Inequality: 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 shows that some members were feasting while others, likely the poorer members, went hungry. The rich were eating and drinking excessively, while the poor were left out and even humiliated. This was a gross perversion of the Lord's Supper, which was meant to be a symbol of unity and shared sacrifice.
Putting It All Together:
Paul is saying that their communal meals, instead of being a unifying experience centered around remembering Christ's sacrifice, had become an occasion for division, social inequality, and even disrespect. They were turning the Lord's Supper into a selfish and divisive affair, which was doing more harm than good to the church community. They were not demonstrating love, unity, or concern for one another. Thus, their gatherings were "for the worse."
In modern terms:
Imagine a company having a team-building event that ends up causing more resentment and conflict between employees than it resolves. That's the kind of situation Paul is addressing. The intention of their gatherings should have been positive, but the reality was the opposite.
1 corinthians 11:17 - But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
What does "1 corinthians 11:17" mean?
This verse from 1 Corinthians 11:17 is part of a longer passage where Paul is addressing problems within the Corinthian church, specifically related to their communal meals, which were associated with the Lord's Supper (Communion). Let's break down what it means:
"But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you...": Paul is introducing a corrective measure. He's about to address a behavior he finds problematic, and he makes it clear that he's not commending them for what they're doing.
"...that you come together not for the better but for the worse.": This is the core of the problem. When they gather as a church, instead of fostering unity, spiritual growth, and edification (coming together "for the better"), their gatherings are actually causing more harm and division ("for the worse").
In essence, Paul is rebuking the Corinthians because their gatherings are detrimental rather than beneficial to the church community.
Context Clues from the Surrounding Verses (Crucial for Understanding):
To fully understand the verse, it's essential to consider what follows:
Divisions: The context of 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 indicates that divisions (factions, cliques) were present when they came together.
Social Inequality: 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 shows that some members were feasting while others, likely the poorer members, went hungry. The rich were eating and drinking excessively, while the poor were left out and even humiliated. This was a gross perversion of the Lord's Supper, which was meant to be a symbol of unity and shared sacrifice.
Putting It All Together:
Paul is saying that their communal meals, instead of being a unifying experience centered around remembering Christ's sacrifice, had become an occasion for division, social inequality, and even disrespect. They were turning the Lord's Supper into a selfish and divisive affair, which was doing more harm than good to the church community. They were not demonstrating love, unity, or concern for one another. Thus, their gatherings were "for the worse."
In modern terms:
Imagine a company having a team-building event that ends up causing more resentment and conflict between employees than it resolves. That's the kind of situation Paul is addressing. The intention of their gatherings should have been positive, but the reality was the opposite.