But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
- BSB If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
- NKJV But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
- NASB But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor have the churches of God.
- NLT But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul ends the discussion by appealing to the common practice of the churches and refusing contentiousness. Unity of practice and a peaceable spirit matter.
Overview
Paul closes the topic by noting that neither he nor the other churches recognize a contentious custom that would overturn his teaching. He values both orderly uniformity among the churches and a non-quarrelsome spirit. The verse discourages divisive insistence on one's own way and commends humble conformity to the shared practice of God's people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Cor 7:17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
- 1 Tim 6:3–4If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
- 1 Th 2:14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
- Acts 21:24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
- 1 Cor 14:33–34For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
- Acts 21:21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
- 1 Cor 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 11:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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