| The Berean Expositor Volume 46 - Page 52 of 249 Index | Zoom | |
that such scandalous behaviour could occur among Christians, but Paul knew to what
depths such could sink when the old sinful nature is indulged.
He uses two words for divisions, schisma and hairesis, which, while having different
shades of meaning, can only refer to the same thing here. Divisions resulted in separate
parties being formed, evidently antagonistic to each other. The only good thing about
this sorry state of affairs was "there must be also heresies among you, that they which are
approved (dokimoi) may be made manifest among you" (verse 19). In other words,
people's true characters are exposed in such a situation; those walking worthy and
therefore approved by the Lord, being manifestly distinct from the backsliders. The Lord
Jesus, in His lifetime, had hinted that such divisions would occur, but that those
responsible would come under judgment (Matt. 18: 7). Alas, the history of the
professing church right through the centuries, has been strewn with such happenings.
The Corinthian communal meal was certainly a meal of sorts, but it was not the Lord's
Super in the way the believers at Corinth were treating it. The word Lord's is the
adjective kuriakon, "relating to the Lord", and here is emphatic. Instead of the Lord
being in control, the sinful flesh as dominating, and this meal, which could have
beautifully set forth their practical oneness in Christ, was being used for gluttony and
selfishness. No wonder Paul was so indignant. The chief offenders appeared to be the
rich, who were in a position to set an example in generosity and thoughtfulness for the
poorer brethren. Instead of this, they were grossly over-eating and drinking, even to the
point of getting drunk, with the result that the poor were left without food and went
hungry (verses 20 & 21).
"What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the Church of God,
and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this?
I praise you not" (I Cor. 11: 22 R.V.).
This disgraceful behaviour was bringing Christianity into contempt and Paul charged
them to remedy this at once.