1 Corinthians 11:17

1 Corinthians 11:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
• New International Version (NIV)In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

Context of 1 Corinthians 11:17

15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God. Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

1 Corinthians 11:17 word by word

Τοῦτο δὲ παραγγέλλων οὐκ ἐπαινῶ ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τὸ κρεῖσσον ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τὸ ἧσσον συνέρχεσθε.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• in thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• that I declareπαραγγέλλωparaggellō · to orderG3853
• I praiseἐπαινέωepaineō · to praiseG1867
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ye come togetherσυνέρχομαιsunerchomai · to assembleG4905
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the worseἥσσωνhētton · less/worseG2276

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 11:17

• 1 Corinthians 11:2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
• Leviticus 19:17“Do not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your neighbor directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him.
• Proverbs 27:5Better an open reprimand than concealed love.
• Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
• 1 Peter 2:14or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.
• 1 Corinthians 11:20When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
• 1 Corinthians 14:23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
• Isaiah 1:13Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies — I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.
• Isaiah 58:1“Cry out loudly, don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Tell my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.
• Jeremiah 7:9“‘Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known?
• Hebrews 10:25not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Now in this - I praise you not - In the beginning of this epistle the apostle did praise them for their attention in general to the rules he had laid down, see 1 Corinthians 11:2; but here he is obliged to condemn certain irregularities which had crept in among them, particularly relative to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Through some false teaching which they had received, in the absence of the apostle, they appear to have celebrated it precisely…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Now in this that I declare - In this that I am about to state to you; to wit, your conduct in regard to the Lord‘s Supper. Why this subject is introduced here is not very apparent. The connection may be this. In the subjects immediately preceding he had seen much to commend, and he was desirous of commending them as far as it could be done. In 1 Corinthians 11:2 of this chapter he commends them in general for their regard to the ordinances which he had…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 The apostle rebukes the disorders in their partaking of the Lord's supper. The ordinances of Christ, if they do not make us better, will be apt to make us worse. If the use of them does not mend, it will harden. Upon coming together, they fell into divisions, schisms. Christians may separate from each other's communion, yet be charitable one towards another; they may continue in the same communion, yet be uncharitable. This last is schism…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17your gatherings: Early Christians met in someone's home at least once a week, usually on the Lord's Day (see 16:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. in this--which follows. I declare--rather, "I enjoin"; as the Greek is always so used. The oldest manuscripts read literally "This I enjoin (you) not praising (you)." that--inasmuch as; in that you, &c. Here he qualifies his praise (1Co 11:2). "I said that I praised you for keeping the ordinances delivered to you; but I must now give injunction in the name of the Lord, on a matter in which I praise you not; namely, as to the Lord's Supper (1Co 11:23…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 11:17

• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Comely
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• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
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Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings