irapayyiXXcLv in the New Testament never means to declare, but always to command. Hence, the better translation is, Commanding or enjoining this I do not applaud. It is doubt- ful whether this refers to what precedes or to what follows. If the former, then the sense is, ' AYhile I command what precedes respecting women appearing veiled, I do not praise you, that,' &c. If the latter, the meaning is, ' Commanding what follows, I do not praise,' &c. That ye come together not for the better^ but for the icorse. That is, your pubUc as- semblies are so conducted that evil rather than good results. The censure is general, embracing all the grounds of complaint which are specified in this and the following chapters.
18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you ; and I partly believe it.
For first of all^ or, For in the first place. Paul often be- gins an enumeration which he does not follow out. There is nothing to answer to these words in what follows. According to one view the first censure is directed against the divisions, and the second against their mode of celebrating the Lord's sup- per. But the only divisions which he here refers to are those connected with their pubhc worship, and especially with the celebration of the sacrament. Besides, the subject of divisions was treated in the beginning of the epistle. He is here speak- ing of their assemblies. The second ground of censure is to be found in the following chapter. Wheii ye come together in the church. The word [iKKk-qa-ia) church never means in the New Testament, a buildmg. The meaning is, when ye come together in convocation, or assemble as a church. I hear that there be divisions ainong you. Literally, schisms. For the meaning of that word, see 1, 10. The nature of these schisms is described in what follows. They were cliques, not sects, but parties, separated from each other by alienation of feeling. It is evident that the rich formed one of these parties, as dis- tinguished from the poor. And probably there were many other grounds of division. The Jewish converts separated from the Gentiles ; those having one gift exalted themselves over those having another. It is not outward separation, but inward alienatioft, which is here complained of. And I partly believe it. Paul intimates that he was loath to believe all he
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