The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 359

plain words into impossible meanings. "His fair large front o.nd eye sublime The word "angels" cannot mean "Church declared officials," or "holy men," or "prophets," or Absolute rule; and hyaci11thi11e locks " de)euo.tee " or "bride,,room'a men " or Round from his parted forelock manly anything but angels. Nor con the 'verse huu~ mean, as Bengel supposes, that women are Clustc~ing, but not beneath his shoulders to veil themselves because the angels <lo so broad: (Isa. vi. 2), or (as Augustine says) because She, as a veil, dawn to the slender 1caist the angels approve of it. The ouly question Her nnn,lnrned golden tresses wore." is whether the allusion is to good or bad (l\Iilton, • Paradise Lost,' iv. 30!.) angels. In favour of the latter view is (I) the universal tradition among the Jews Ver. 15.-It is a glory to her. Because that the angels fell by lust for mortal it is at once beautiful and natural; and as women, which was the Jewish way of Bengel says, "Will should follow the intorpreting Gen. vi. 1, 2. This is the guido.nce of nature." view of •.rertullian (' De Virg. Vel.,' 7) in Ver. 16.-But if any man seem to be writing on this subject. A woman, in oontentious. St. Paul cuts the question the opinion and traditions of Oriental short, o.s though impatient of any further J ewe, is liable to injury from the shedim, cliscussion of a subject alreo.dy settled by if she appears in public unveiled; and instinctive decorum and by the common these evil spirits are supposed to delight in sense of unirnrse.1 usage. "Seem to be the appearance of unveiled women. The contentious" is (like the Lntin videtur) objection to this view, that angeloi alone is only a courteous wo.y of saying "is conten- never used of evil hut al ways of good tious." If o.ny of you wish to be disputatious 11ngels, is not perhaps decisive (see eh. vi. and quarrelsome about this minor matter 3). The verse may, however, mean (in of ritual, I must content myself with saying- accordance with the Jewish belief of those that he must take his own course (for o. days) that good angels, being under the similar use of the euphemistic " seem," see possibility of falling from the same cause Phil. iii. 4; Heh. iv. l; Jas. i. 26). We o.s their evil brethren, fly o.wo.y o.t once from have no such custom. The empho.tie " we" the presence of unveiled women. Thus menns the apostles and the leaders of the Kha::lijnh te~1.ed tbe.t the visitant of her Church at Jerusnlem o.ud Antioch. Such husband Mohammed really was tho angel cuo!om. Not referring to "contentiousness," Gabriel, because he disappeared the moment but to the women appearing with uncovered she unveiled her head. On the whole, heads. Neither the Chnrchn of God. If however, the meaning seems to be, out of you Corinthians prefer these abuormnl respect and rnerenee for the holy angels, practices in spite of reason, cummon sonse, ioho a,·e always invisibly present in tlie 11nd my argumtints, you must sttind alone Clwistian asseml,lies. (On this point, see in your innovo.tions upon universal Christ inn Luke xv. 10; Eph. iii. 10; Heh. i. 14; xii. prnctice. Ilut co.tbolic custom is ago.inst 1 ; Eccles. v. 6; Pa. cxxxviii. l [LXX.J; your "self-opinionated particularism." Tobit xii. 12. See Lo.timer's 'Sermons,' Vera. 17-34.-Discreclilable irregularities p. 253). "Reverence the angels" is St. at the Euclwrist and the agapre. Chrysostom's remark. Ver. 17.-Now in this that I declare uuto Ver. 11.-Neverthelesa. The verse is you I praise you not ; rather, o.s in tho mennt to correct o.ny tendency on the po.rt Revised Version, Bttt ill givill'] you this of men to domineer. Man aud woman nre charge, I praise you not. A reference to tho "all ono in Christ Jesus" (Gal. iii. 28). "I praise you" of vor. 2. Ye come to- gether. As he o.clvances, his rebukes bo- "The two-celled heart, beating with one como more nnd more serious; for tho present full stroke- reproach docs not uffect II fow, but tho Life." Church nssembly in general. Ver. 18.-First of all. The "secoud" Ver. 12.-By the woman; that is, "born rebuke is not clearly stutetl, but is no doubt or a woman" (Job xiv. 1). Bnt all things of meant to re for to tho abuses in "speakiug God. And ell things also "through him with the tongue." In the Chnroh; ruthor, and to him,'' made by him, and tendin~ 0 to in congregation, or assembly. 'fhe referonco him as their end (Rom. xi. ci6). is not to a po.rticulnr building. 'fhe Lord's Ver.13.-Isitoomely, etc.? An oppeo.l to Supper wo.s ndminister ,d frequently (ol'igin- the decision of their instinctive ecnso of pro• o.lly overy do.y, Acts ii. 46), nnd often in priety. private houses. Divisione; Bchi•ms (eh. i. 10, Ver. H.-Doth not even natnre itself 12). Hero, however, he is referring to cliqu~s teaoh you 1 " N,lture" here hos much the and quarrels 11t tho Iove-fe'.lsls. Partly. I same senso os "instinct." cannot think, he so.ye, in a tono of kindncs1, •  THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [en. x1. 1-34.