17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
Some of the Bible translations interpret verse 17 as a change in focus. Instead of “But in giving this instruction…”, these say “In the following instruction…” So, is this paragraph summing up the discussion about appropriate behavior and dress codes in church, or is it about the way the church is taking communion in the Corinthian church (vss. 20-34)?
Obviously the church was being divided over women praying in the group setting. Some thought they were being disrespectful of their husbands and the Lord, some did not. Did Paul give an instruction on that problem? Well, sort of. In the following verses, he deals with the disagreements they are having over communion. In either area - appropriate dress codes or communion - they are having problems getting along, coming to an agreement.
V. 17 - “But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you” - Let’s go with the idea that the next few verses is the problem Paul is dealing with, and not what was said previously. (It makes a nice transition this way.) Paul is not pleased with them. It gives him no pleasure to have to deal with this issue. As we read through to the end of the chapter, we can find no ‘wiggle room’ in which there may be some praise for their conduct.
“because you come together not for the better but for the worse.” - In other words, they are at each others’ throats whenever they meet for church. There is no harmony and spirit of worship. There is anger and arguments.
V. 18 - “I hear that divisions exist among you” - When they meet together as the church to worship Jesus Christ they are not of one mind, one body, and one spirit. The church is divided and the information has reached all the way to Ephesus where Paul is ministering.
V. 19 - “For there must also be factions” - There are ‘divisions’ and ‘factions’ in the church over this issue. What is the difference? Divisions would indicate there is disagreement over the way things are being done. Factions would indicate the divisions have calcified and people are taking sides. It has gone to the point where people are separating themselves based on who they approve. The church is being split apart on this issue. This is deeper than one group liking the modern worship music and another liking the old-style hymns. It is more than an internal squabble - EVERYONE knows the church is being split apart.
This reminds mw of what is going on these days in our politcal and social structure in the U.S. Many have noted that people used to disagress politically, and yet could be friends, or at least polite with each other. Too often now disagreement spawns HATE. Violence against your opponent is encouraged. (Example: Charlie Kirk’s assassination ellicited laughter and joy on some TV talk shows. Or, an ice cream store is offering free ice cream if President Trump is assassinated.) The death, even the murder, of a political opponent is cheered. Civility is breaking down. That is what Paul was worried about in the Corinthian church.
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