Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
Parallel translations
- WEB But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.
- BSB In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good.
- NKJV Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
- NASB Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse.
- NLT But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together.
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 cannot praise the Corinthians because their gatherings do more harm than good. Their conduct at the Lord's Supper had become destructive.
Overview
Turning to the Lord's Supper, Paul withholds the commendation he gave earlier (v. 2), because their assemblies were making things worse. The problem was not the meal itself but the divisive, selfish way they observed it. This introduces his serious correction of how the church gathers, calling them back to worship that builds up rather than harms.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Heb 10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
- Isa 58:1–4Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
- 1 Cor 11:22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
- 1 Cor 14:23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- 1 Pet 2:14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
- 1 Cor 11:2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
- Lev 19:17Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
- 1 Cor 14:26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
- Jer 7:9–10Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
- Isa 1:13–14Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
- 1 Cor 11:34And 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.
- 1 Cor 11:20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
- Prov 27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love.
- Rom 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
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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 11:17 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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