1 Corinthians 11:16 kjv
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:16 nkjv
But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:16 niv
If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice?nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:16 esv
If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:16 nlt
But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God's other churches.
1 Corinthians 11 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "...God is not the author of confusion but of peace." | Order in worship |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "Let all things be done decently and in order." | Proper conduct |
| 1 Cor 11:2 | "Now I praise you, brethren, for remembering me in all things and for holding fast the traditions just as I delivered them to you." | Importance of traditions |
| 1 Tim 2:8 | "I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." | Decorum in prayer |
| 1 Tim 5:20 | "Those who are sinning rebuke before all, that the rest also may fear." | Accountability for conduct |
| Titus 1:5 | "...that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—" | Church order and leadership |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | Submission to authority |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake..." | Respect for order |
| Gal 5:17 | "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another..." | Internal conflict/discipline |
| Phil 2:3 | "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than himself." | Humility in community |
| Eph 5:21 | "Submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God." | Mutual submission |
| John 14:26 | "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things..." | Spirit's role in understanding |
| Acts 16:4 | "And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep which were decided by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem." | Apostolic decrees |
| 1 Thes 4:1,2 | "Furthermore then we urge you, brethren, by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God..." | Following apostolic teaching |
| 2 Thes 3:6 | "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." | Discipline for disorder |
| Deut 13:12-14 | (Speaking of false prophets who lead Israel astray, implying a need to remove such influences.) | Protecting the community |
| Lev 10:1-2 | (Nadab and Abihu offering unauthorized fire, resulting in death, highlighting divine seriousness about worship protocols.) | Seriousness of worship protocols |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord?'" | Obedience over ritual |
| John 17:20,21 | "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one..." | Unity in belief and practice |
| Ps 119:126 | "It is time for You to act, O Lord, For they have regarded Your law as having been broken." | Upholding God's law |
| 1 Cor 7:17 | "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches." | Personal calling & church practice |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | All actions for God's glory |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 16 Meaning
The verse emphasizes that if a community or individual does not adhere to the established customs and traditions concerning worship and appearance, they will not accept this practice. This signifies a rejection of dissent from established order within the church, particularly concerning matters of conduct.
1 Corinthians 11 16 Context
This verse appears within 1 Corinthians chapter 11, a section dealing with public worship and conduct, specifically focusing on head coverings for women and men during prayer and prophecy, and the observance of the Lord's Supper. Paul is addressing issues of disorder and inappropriateness in the Corinthian church's worship practices. Corinth, being a cosmopolitan city with various philosophical and cultural influences, had particular customs regarding male and female roles and adornment that Paul is seeking to clarify or correct in light of Christian distinctiveness and unity. The apostle is building a case for orderly, decent, and unified worship that reflects the spiritual realities of the Christian community.
1 Corinthians 11 16 Word analysis
- Εἰ δέ (ei de): "But if" or "And if." Introduces a hypothetical or contrasting condition.
- τις (tis): "Anyone" or "someone." Indefinite pronoun, referring to any individual or group within the church.
- φιλονεικεῖν (ph Milonikein): "To be contentious," "to be contentious," "to love to win," or "to be ambitious for victory." This word carries a strong sense of a desire to debate, argue, or assert one's own position, often in a disruptive way. It suggests a spirit of contention rather than amiable acceptance. It reflects an opposition to established norms or teachings, implying a willful disagreement.
- θέλειν (thelein): "To wish," "to want," or "to be willing." Indicates volition or a disposition.
- εἰς τὸ (eis to): "Into the," "for the," or "according to the." Prepositional phrase indicating direction or purpose.
- ἔθος (ethos): "Custom," "habit," "practice," or "tradition." Refers to established ways of doing things within a society or community.
- ἔχειν (echein): "To have" or "to possess."
- οὐ (ou): "Not." A strong negation.
- τοιαῦτα (toiauta): "Such" or "such things." Refers back to the previous discussion or implied contentious behavior and its opposite, the practice of not having such customs.
- συνήθειαι (synētheiai): "Customs," "practices," or "habitual usages." Similar to ethos, but often referring to more common or prevalent practices. It implies that there is a recognized pattern of conduct within the church that one is choosing to disregard.
- τῆς θεοῦ (tēs theou): "Of God." The possessive form indicates these customs are recognized within or derived from the community that belongs to God.
Group analysis of words
- φιλονεικεῖν θέλειν (ph Milonikein thelein): The desire to be contentious, to insist on one's own way. This captures a defiant spirit against the norms being discussed, likely related to the decorum Paul has been advocating.
- ἔθος ἔχειν (ethos echein): To have custom, implying acceptance and practice of established ways.
- οὐ τοιαῦτα συνήθειαι τῆς θεοῦ (ou toiauta synētheiai tēs theou): "No such customs of God." This phrasing indicates that a rejection of these norms means rejection of the patterns established within the community of God, suggesting these practices are not arbitrary but have a divine endorsement or precedent.
1 Corinthians 11 16 Bonus section
The use of "ethos" and "synētheiai" together emphasizes the established and commonly practiced traditions within the church. These were not Paul's personal opinions, but practices he had taught and were recognized by other churches, reflecting an apostolic tradition. The principle here extends beyond specific cultural norms like head coverings to any practice that creates division or dishonors God in corporate worship. It underscores the importance of unity and respect for communal standards that promote edification and peace, rather than internal strife. This verse, therefore, guards against a rebellious individualism that seeks to disrupt the harmony of the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11 16 Commentary
The verse serves as a concluding warning in this section. Paul states that if anyone wants to be argumentative or contrary (milonikein), and rejects the prevailing, acceptable customs (ethos, synētheiai) within the believing community (tēs theou), then this person, or rather their practice of contention, will not be accepted. It’s a firm stance against stubborn opposition to the established order and teachings. The "customs of God" imply practices that align with divine will or have been instituted by God's people under the guidance of His Spirit. Refusing these customs means refusing a God-honoring way of life and worship.
- Practical application: This can apply to how individuals approach church rules, dress codes during worship, or participatory roles. Instead of contentious debate, the focus should be on peaceful participation that honors God and the community.
- Example: A member persistently questioning or deliberately disregarding agreed-upon communion practices, even after clarification, might be acting in a way Paul addresses here. The response from the church leadership or community would be to not endorse or accept such contentious behavior.