What St. Paul says in the first 16 verses of this chapter amounts to this, that by divine appointment, the man is constituted the head of the woman, or her superior, and as in eastern nations the veil was expressive of the modesty and subordination of the woman, her throwing it off, and assuming the open, confident appearance of the man, was unbecoming, and in effect, dis honoured the man, her head, or superior; ver. 5. So likewise the man, in the public assemblies ought to appear uncovered and openfaced, by put ting on the woman's veil, degraded himself, & thus dishonoured Christ, bis bead, who had constituted him the superior sex ; but if any were resolved to be contentious in support of these unbecoming practices, Paul informs them ver. 16, that neither they in Judea, nor the churches of God, have any such custom. who What follows ver. 16, relates to the irregular conduct of the Corinthians at the sacrament. This ordinance had become a scene of riot and disorder; the provision was carried from home, and the rich collected themselves together around their own food to the exclusion of the poor, and ate and drank to excess; so that while some were hungry, others were drunken. This conduct Paul censures as criminal, and inconsistent with the solemnities of the Lord's supper. Concerning the have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 Chap. xi. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Lord's supper. the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: a In this, that I am about to declare unto you. 6 Your coming together into one place ist all, that is necessary to the right and worthy eating of the Lord's supper. 24 And, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shewe the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, & drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation d to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Ye do shew, ye openly publish, &c. d Damnation, judgment or punishment. In the next verse Paul says for this cause, i. e. unworthy eating, they were punished with sickness, debility and death. Of spiritual gifts 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. I. Corinthians. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together, to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. CHAP. XII. 1 Spiritual gifts are diverse, yet all to profit withal, and to that end are diversely bestowed. 8 NOW, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed; and that no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now, there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. being diverse, &c. Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit ; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man sev. erally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, & hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall Besay, cause I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it, there fore, not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it, therefore, not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the swelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 24 And the eye must not say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need; but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church; first, apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, charity, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles ? are all prophets ? are all teachers ? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts; and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. CHAP. XIII. 1 All gifts, how excellent soever, are nothing worth without charity: 4 the praises thereof. THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity,a I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, a Charity, in this and the following chapter, does not, as some think, signify only giving alms to the poor, or having a favourable opinion of will, which on all occasions is ready others; but it signifies love or good to express itself in acts of kindness and compassion. Christian charity is fully explained, ver. 4-7, of this ch. Prophecy and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but, when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. I. Corinthians. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. commended. FOLLOW after charity,a and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth him, howbeit in the spirit he speak eth mysteries. CHAP. XIV. 1 Prophecy is commended, 2, 3, 4 and preferred before speaking with tongues. 31 women are forbidden to speak in the church. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues; but rather that ye prophesied for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you, speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise, you, except a Charity, love or benevolence ; see Chap. xiii. 2. |
