1 Corinthians 11:18 kjv
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
1 Corinthians 11:18 nkjv
For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1 Corinthians 11:18 niv
In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
1 Corinthians 11:18 esv
For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
1 Corinthians 11:18 nlt
First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it.
1 Corinthians 11 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 1:10 | That all of you be in the same mind, speaking the same thing. | Unity in belief |
| 1 Corinthians 3:3 | For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? | Divisions are signs of carnality |
| 1 Corinthians 1:12 | Now this I say, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." | Specific example of division |
| 1 Corinthians 12:12 | For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also Christ. | Body of Christ analogy |
| Galatians 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity transcends earthly distinctions |
| Philippians 2:2 | If therefore there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, | Exhortation to unity and humility |
| Philippians 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 promotes unity |
| Romans 12:5 | So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. | Unity within the body of Christ |
| Ephesians 4:3 | being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Preserving the unity of the Spirit |
| Ephesians 4:13 | till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ | Goal of unity in faith |
| Colossians 3:15 | And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also were called in one body; and be thankful. | Peace as the ruling principle |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." | Love as the basis for unity |
| John 13:35 | By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. | Love as a mark of discipleship |
| Acts 4:32 | Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. | Early church unity and sharing |
| 1 Corinthians 11:17 | Now in giving these instructions, I do not praise you, in that your meetings themselves are not for the better but for the worse. | Overall negative assessment |
| 1 Corinthians 11:20 | Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. | Failure to properly observe Supper |
| 1 Corinthians 11:21 | For each one takes his own supper ahead of others, and one is hungry and another is drunk. | Selfishness in gatherings |
| 1 Corinthians 11:22 | What? Have you not houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. | Criticism of improper behavior |
| 1 Corinthians 14:26 | How is it then, brethren, when you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. | Proper conduct in worship |
| Jude 1:19 | These are the ones who cause divisions, sensual, following the Spirit. | Identification of division makers |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 18 Meaning
The verse states that when the Corinthian believers gathered together, divisions arose among them. This implies a lack of unity and a tendency toward factionalism, hindering the proper functioning and spirit of the Christian community. It points to a deep-seated problem that affected their worship and fellowship.
1 Corinthians 11 18 Context
This verse appears in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, where Paul addresses issues related to worship and conduct in the church at Corinth. Specifically, this passage deals with the disorder that was occurring during their assembly, particularly concerning the Lord's Supper and the roles of men and women. The Corinthians were a highly diverse group with varied backgrounds and likely significant social distinctions. Paul is correcting abuses that were undermining the unity and purpose of their gatherings, especially the shared meal that preceded the Lord's Supper. The issue of division ("schismata") was a prominent problem in Corinth, indicating a fractured community rather than a cohesive body.
1 Corinthians 11 18 Word Analysis
- "When you come together": ( synérchomai in Greek) signifies assembling or meeting. It refers to the church gathering collectively.
- "in the church": ( ekklēsia in Greek) denotes the assembly or congregation of believers, not a physical building but the people themselves.
- "I hear": ( akouō in Greek) signifies hearing reports or news about their conduct.
- "there are divisions": ( schismata in Greek) translates to rents, factions, or schisms. It highlights a literal tearing apart of the community, leading to differing groups and disunity. This word can refer to both external schisms and internal divisions.
- "among you": indicates that the problem is internal to the Corinthian church community.
- "and I partly believe it": This phrase ("kai meros touto pisteuō") suggests Paul had received information confirming these reports and that it was not merely unsubstantiated gossip. He believed there was a significant truth to the allegations of division. The word "partly" implies that perhaps not every single report was verified, but the overall existence of the problem was credible.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "When you come together in the church": This sets the stage, specifying the particular occasion and location of the problem – their collective meetings, which were meant to be expressions of unity in Christ. The "church" here is the assembly of believers, the ekklēsia.
- "there are divisions": The core issue is identified as schismata. This is not just theological disagreement but a deep fracture within the community, leading to parties or factions. This contradicts the fundamental nature of the church as one body in Christ.
- "and I partly believe it": This shows that Paul is responding to information he has received, validating the seriousness of the problem reported to him by some in the church, possibly Chloe's household (as mentioned earlier in chapter 1).
1 Corinthians 11 18 Bonus Section
The term schisma was also used in a secular context to refer to a rift or political division. Applying it to the church highlighted how worldly divisions were permeating their Christian community. Paul’s concern over schismata underscores that unity is not optional but essential for the church’s testimony and functioning. The Corinthians were not only divided in practice but likely in loyalty, as seen in verse 12 where some claimed allegiance to specific apostles. This problem demonstrates that external behavioral issues often stem from internal attitudinal problems of pride, exclusivity, and a failure to love one another as Christ commanded.
1 Corinthians 11 18 Commentary
Paul is writing to the Corinthians because their public gatherings, especially the Lord's Supper, were marred by severe disunity. The divisions (schismata) Paul addresses indicate a serious breakdown in their fellowship. Instead of being a unified body reflecting Christ's love, they were fragmenting into cliques and factions. This directly contradicted the unity that should characterize the people of God. Paul's statement that he "partly believes it" signifies that the reports of these divisions carried significant weight and evidence, prompting his firm correction. This disunity was not a minor issue but a fundamental flaw in their Christian life and worship.