1 Corinthians 11:18 Meaning and Explanation
“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul has heard of divisions among them when they gather, and partly credits the report.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:18 Mean?
Paul names the first trouble: divisions surface when the Corinthians assemble. He has heard reports and gives them partial credence, neither dismissing the news nor condemning on hearsay alone. The same factionalism he confronted earlier in the letter now shows itself at the table.
The tragedy is that the gathering meant to display oneness instead exposes fracture. The church is by its nature a body, knit together; division at its assembly contradicts its very being. Paul's measured response, believing in part, models a careful charity that takes a problem seriously without rushing to judgment. He grieves the splits because he knows what the church is called to be: one people, gathered as one, before one Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:18 in the Original Language
schisma (σχίσμα), 'divisions' -- a tearing or split, a rift that divides what should be whole.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:18
What does 1 Corinthians 11:18 mean?
Paul has heard of divisions among them when they gather, and partly credits the report.