Wednesday, April 21, 2010

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God (KJV)

Then: Odd placement for this verse. It doesn't seem to relate to what came before, unless Paul is reacting to complaints received about women's dress - which he considered contentious - and is piqued about having to discuss the whole thing in the first place. (I'm rather tired of the topic myself.) Some believe Paul purposefully changed the pattern of covered heads in temple worship to being uncovered in Christian worship. Perhaps some men were objecting to that. Baker (p. 165) supports an understanding that other churches followed Paul's teachings about covered and uncovered heads. Corinthian men should too.

Now: Would that contention were never a part of any church in the Lord's kingdom. Would that peace only reigned even when differences of opinion pop up. Would that contention never led to church splits, but all things were resolved based on the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, the desire and the actuality differ.

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

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