are used figuratively of moral infirmities and spiritual declen- sion, they should be taken in their literal sense. Paul knew that the prevailing sickness and frequent deaths among the Christians of Corinth were a judgment from God on account of the irreverent manner in which they had celebrated the Lord's supper.
31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
For^ i. e. these afflictions are judgments from God, because of your sin in this matter ; for, \i we judge ourselves, that is, if we examine ourselves (see v. 28) and prepare ourselves for the Lord's table, we should not be judged, i. e. thus afflicted. It is because we do not sit in judgment on ourselves, that God judges us.
32. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
These judgments were chastisements designed for the benefit of those who sufiered, to bring them to repentance, that they might not be finally condemned with the world ; that is, with unbelievers. The world often means mankind as distinguished from the church, or those chosen out of the world. " They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world," John 17, 16. What Paul says of the design of these judgments, j^roves that even the extreme irreverence with which he charges the Corinthians in reference to the Lord's supper, was not an unpardonable sin.
33. 34. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home ; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
The two great evils connected with the observance of the Lord's supper at Corinth were, first, that it was not a com- munion, one took his supper before another, v. 21 ; and sec- ondly, that they came to the Lord's table to satisfy their