16. But if any man seem to be contentious, w«tf have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
The arguments against the custom of women appearing in public unveiled having been presented, the apostle says, if any man, notwithstanding these arguments, is disposed to dispute the matter, or appears to be contentious, we have only further to say, that we (the apostles) have no such custom, neither have the churches of God. To be contentious, i. e. disposed to dispute for the sake of disputation. With such persons all ar- gument is useless. Authority is the only end of controversy with such disturbers of the peace. The authority here ad- duced is that of the apostles and of the churches. The former was decisive, because the apostles were invested with authori- ty not only to teach the gospel, but also to organize the church, and to decide every thing relating to Christian ordi- nances and worship. The authority of the churches, although not coercive, was yet great. No man is justified, except on clearly scriptural grounds, and from the necessity of obeying God rather than man, to depart from the established usages of the church in matters of public cojicern.
Calvin, and many of the best modern commentators, give a different view of this passage. They understand the apostle to say, that if any one seems to be disputatious, nei- ther we nor the churches are accustomed to dispute. It is not our wont to waste words with those who wish merely to make contention. The only reason assigned for this interpretation, is Paul's saying we have no such custom ; which they say can- not mean the custom of women going unveiled. But why not ? The apostles and the churches constituted a whole — neither the one nor the other, neither the churches nor their infallible guides, sanctioned the usage in question. Besides, no other custom is mentioned in the context than the one which he has been discussing. " If any one appear conten- tious," is not a custom and suggests nothing to which the words such a custom can naturally refer.
Celebration of the Lord's Supper, vs. 17-34.
This section relates to the disorders connected with the celebration of the Lord's supper. These disorders were of a kind which, according to our method of celebrating that sacrament, seems almost unaccountable. It was, however, the early custom to connect the Lord's supper in the strict