The College Press NIV Commentary: 1 Corinthians

Top Highlights

“All things considered, it is not a radical conclusion to affirm that a congregation in a large Roman colony would have some Roman members who would have been converted from Roman paganism and would have brought some of their devotional and liturgical traditions with them into the worship assemblies of the church of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:4)

“‘Paul’s view is that the creation order should be properly manifested, not obliterated, in Christian worship.…’ ^{7” (1 Corinthians 11:3)}

“Paul is basically saying that individuals should not be too proud too soon, since no one knows the real quality of the converts until all of them stand before God’s judgment and his refining fire on judgment day.” (1 Corinthians 3:13)

“In my judgment Paul uses this term kephalē in the literal sense all three times in 11:5.” (1 Corinthians 11:5)

“In this verse Paul forcefully jerks the Corinthians’ current practice of the Lord’s meal from the damning perspectives of Greco-Roman meal customs and firmly replants it in the soil of redemptive history. Whenever believers participate in the Lord’s supper (not just any supper), it is a proclamation of the death of the Lord. The supper as a whole points to Jesus’ death since the two essential elements commanded by Jesus (bread and cup) both are interpreted in terms of his redemptive work at his death. The centrality of this meal to the life of the church is seen in the fact that the church is commanded to eat and drink of the Lord’s meal until the Lord’s return.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)