Paul has just praised the church in Corinth for remembering his teaching and maintaining the traditions he showed them. In this context—as in most—the word translated "traditions" simply means a teaching passed down from someone else. In some cases, those teachings are just preferences (Matthew 15:2). In others, such as this, they are proper applications of truth (2 Thessalonians 2:15). It's possible that Paul's specific meaning here refers to how the believers in Corinth conduct themselves in church meetings.

Despite that praise, he launches into a correction of something going on during their times of worship together. The basis for his correction is headship: the idea that every person—man, woman, or Christ Himself—has a head. Through these remarks, Paul also provides guidance about cultural issues such as the physical appearance of men and women.

Bible scholars are divided about what, exactly, Paul means here by the concept of a "head." This might be an overt reference to authority, meaning each of us is under the authority of someone: our "head," who is in charge. On the other hand, "head" may be a broader term, meaning one who goes before and represents others. These two meanings are related, but subtly different and have different implications.

Paul writes that the head of every man—meaning every adult male—is Christ. Men answer to Christ and Christ represents us. The head of a wife—of a woman—is her husband—is man. As is so often the case, translation from ancient language creates a challenge. As in all such cases, context and discipleship are meant to tell us what a few words, taken alone, may not fully reveal.

Other New Testament passages reveal the Bible's view that the husband is the head of the wife, both as spiritual authority and representative. In this instance, though, Paul seems to be speaking more generally. His point here is directed not directly to authority, but to the order of creation.

Finally, Paul adds that God is the head of Christ. This is part of the mystery of the Trinity, in which Christ is both God and is under the authority and direction of God, as Paul writes elsewhere in this letter (1 Corinthians 3:23; 15:28).

In all three cases, then, each of us, including Christ, has a spiritual head in one form or another. This is the design of creation. Paul will use this foundation to talk about what the Corinthians should do with their physical heads—their appearance—during times of worship together.

First Corinthians 11:2–16 describes Paul's correction of an inappropriate practice of some women in the Corinthian church. Contrary to social norms of that era, they were not wearing head coverings when praying or prophesying before the church. Paul insists that both women and men consider what their chosen appearance implies about their relationship with God. Cultural details may vary, but the principle does not: Christian men and women ought to be ''respectable'' in their manners and dress. In parallel, this teaching also touches on the concept of spiritual leadership.

Paul confronts two issues the church in Corinth was failing to practice correctly. First, some women were not wearing head coverings while praying or prophesying in their meetings. Paul insisted they must do so, and that men must not, based on mankind's relationship to God and the social implications of that covering. Second, Paul describes the reasons for observing the Lord's Supper and how it should be done. The Corinthian Christians had brought God's judgment on themselves for practicing communion in a way which dishonored Christ's sacrifice for sin and humiliated the poor among them.

After concluding his teaching on meat offered to idols, Paul turns to two issues the church in Corinth was getting wrong. The first was head coverings when praying or prophesying in their meetings. Differences between men and women in that regard are because of both spiritual and social reasons. Paul also corrects the disastrous way in which they were practicing the observance of the Lord's Supper. They were dishonoring Christ's sacrifice for sin as well as the poor in the body of Christ, the church. Despite having more to say on communion, Paul will move on to the topic of spiritual gifts in chapter 12.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.

Accessed 5/3/2024 9:06:40 AM

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