1 Corinthians 11 18

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 verses

1 Corinthians 11 18 meaning

In 1 Corinthians 11:18, the Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian believers, stating that when they gather for corporate worship as a church, he has received reports that serious divisions exist among them. He expresses that, to a significant extent, he believes these reports to be true, indicating his concern and validating the severity of the problem. This verse introduces a crucial theme of disunity within the Christian assembly, setting the stage for further corrections regarding their conduct during communal gatherings, particularly concerning the Lord's Supper.

1 Corinthians 11 18 Context

First Corinthians chapter 11 opens with instructions regarding the roles of men and women in the assembly, specifically concerning head coverings. Verse 18 then transitions to a more direct rebuke concerning the Corinthian church's conduct during their communal gatherings, particularly as it relates to the Lord's Supper. This verse functions as the introductory statement for Paul's critique of the divisions observed during their shared meals, which subsequently impacted their celebration of the Eucharist. Historically, Corinth was a bustling Roman port city, known for its diverse population, wealth, and significant social stratification. These societal distinctions—between rich and poor, educated and uneducated, free and slave—often infiltrated the Christian community, manifesting as class-based favoritism and disunity, especially during potluck-style fellowship meals that often preceded or accompanied the Lord's Supper. Paul's admonition is a polemic against the importation of secular social hierarchy into the sacred assembly, which was meant to be a place of equality and unity in Christ.

1 Corinthians 11 18 Word analysis

• For (γαρ - gar): This conjunction indicates an explanation or a reason. Paul is connecting this point directly to his earlier discussions about order in the church, specifically how their practices at communal meals negate the principles of unity he's been trying to instill. It bridges the discussion on head coverings with the abuses at the Lord's Supper.

• in the first place (πρωτον μεν - prōton men): This phrase signals that Paul is beginning to list significant problems he has heard about their assemblies. It implies there are other, possibly related, issues that will follow, particularly concerning the Lord's Supper abuses from verse 20 onward. It establishes a primary concern among many.

• when you come together (συνερχομενων υμων - synerchomenōn hymōn): The present participle emphasizes the ongoing, customary act of gathering. It specifies the setting: their regular corporate assemblies for worship and fellowship. This is where unity should be most apparent, yet ironically, disunity emerges.

• as a church (εν εκκλησια - en ekklēsia): The term ekklēsia refers to the assembly of believers, the called-out people of God. It highlights that these divisions are occurring not in a secular setting but within the very body of Christ, desecrating the sanctity and purpose of the gathering. It underscores the contrast between their outward appearance as "church" and their inner reality.

• I hear (ακουω - akouō): This signifies that Paul's knowledge of the divisions is based on reports, not direct observation. This report (perhaps from Chloe's household or others, 1 Cor 1:11) forms the basis of his pastoral intervention, yet he trusts its validity enough to address it seriously.

• that divisions exist (σχισματα υπαρχειν - schismata hyparchein): Schismata (σχισματα) means "rents," "tears," or "factions." It does not necessarily refer to formal organizational splits (heresies), but rather to serious internal disagreements, disunity, and fragmentation of fellowship that damage the fabric of the community. It suggests a tearing of the harmonious communal life, manifesting as a lack of unity rather than doctrinal disagreement at this stage, though doctrinal rifts can follow.

• among you (εν υμιν - en hymin): Directly pointing to the Corinthian community itself as the site of these divisive issues.

• and in part I believe it (και μερος τι πιστευω - kai meros ti pisteuō): Paul cautiously, yet firmly, confirms the reports' general truth. "In part" suggests that either the full extent of the reports might be exaggerated, or perhaps not everyone is equally guilty, or that he recognizes the deep-seated tendencies of the Corinthians (already seen in earlier chapters) to engage in such behavior. It shows he is not dismissing the concern but accepting the fundamental reality of disunity among them.

• "when you come together... as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you": This phrase group emphasizes the egregious nature of the problem. The very act of "coming together" as the "church" is intended to manifest unity in Christ. To hear of "divisions" during this sacred assembly highlights a profound contradiction between their calling and their conduct, negating the witness of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 11 18 Bonus section

The nature of the "divisions" (schismata) here is crucial. While later Paul addresses outright heresy (like in Galatians or Jude), in Corinth, schismata often referred more to factionalism and socio-economic rifts affecting their fellowship, particularly during communal meals. The poor members, perhaps arriving later after work, found the food consumed by wealthier members who arrived earlier. This created an "us vs. them" dynamic where the sacred meal became a display of status rather than unity. Paul views these divisions not just as unfortunate social problems but as a profound theological failing that grieves the Holy Spirit and distorts the message of the cross, which unites all believers in equal standing before God. The absence of love, a core theme in 1 Corinthians (especially chapter 13), lies at the heart of these divisions.

1 Corinthians 11 18 Commentary

Paul's opening remark in 1 Corinthians 11:18 is a sharp indictment of the Corinthian church's conduct during their sacred assemblies. It directly links the issue of internal strife (introduced in chapters 1-4) to their corporate worship. The existence of schismata – internal splits and factionalism – among those gathered as the visible expression of the Body of Christ was utterly antithetical to the gospel they professed. This wasn't merely social disagreement, but a rupture in the spiritual unity that Christ had purchased. Paul's "in part I believe it" serves not to minimize the issue but to lend it apostolic weight; he acknowledges the veracity of the problematic reports, preparing to address specific manifestations of this disunity, such as the abuses surrounding the Lord's Supper that prioritized social status over Christian fellowship. The implication is that true Christian gathering must reflect genuine love and equality, not worldly divisions.