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).

This disgraceful behaviour was bringing Christianity into contempt and Paul charged

them to remedy this at once.