1 Corinthians 11:19 Meaning and Explanation
“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul observes that factions, painful as they are, reveal who is genuine.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:19 Mean?
Paul makes a sober observation: where a community is tested, factions arise, and in their arising the genuine are revealed. He is not blessing division but acknowledging that trials sift a congregation, bringing the approved to light.
There is a strange providence in this. The very pressures that fracture a church also disclose who is standing firm and true. Hardship has a way of showing what was real all along. Paul would not have his readers welcome strife, but he would have them see that God can turn even painful testing toward a good end, making manifest those whose faith has been tried and found faithful. Nothing the church suffers is wasted in God's hands.
1 Corinthians 11:19 in the Original Language
dokimos (δόκιμος), 'approved' -- tested and found genuine, like metal proven true by fire.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:19
What does 1 Corinthians 11:19 mean?
Paul observes that factions, painful as they are, reveal who is genuine.