1 Corinthians 11:16

16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:16 in Other Translations

16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

16 I hope you're not going to be argumentative about this. All God's churches see it this way; I don't want you standing out as an exception.

16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if any man seem to be contentious
That is, if anyone will not be satisfied with reasons given, for men's praying and prophesying with their heads uncovered, and women's praying and prophesying with their heads covered; but will go on to raise objections, and continue carping and cavilling, showing that they contend not for truth, but victory, can they but obtain it any way; for my part, as if the apostle should say, I shall not think it worth my while to continue the dispute any longer; enough has been said to satisfy any wise and good man, anyone that is serious, thoughtful, and modest; and shall only add,

we have no such custom, nor the churches of God;
meaning, either that men should appear covered, and women uncovered in public service, and which should have some weight with all those that have any regard to churches and their examples; or that men should be indulged in a captious and contentious spirit; a man that is always contending for contention sake, and is continually cavilling and carping at everything that is said and done in churches, and is always quarrelling with one person or another, or on account of one thing or another, and is constantly giving uneasiness, is not fit to be a church member; nor ought he to be suffered to continue in the communion of the church, to the disturbance of the peace of it. This puts me in mind of a passage in the Talmud ^F14.

``The Rabbans teach, that after the departure of R. Meir, R. Judah said to his disciples, do not let the disciples of R. Meir enter here, (Nh Nynrtnqv ynpm) , "because they are contentious".''

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 T. Bab. Nazir, fol. 49. 2. & Kiddushin, fol. 52. 2.

1 Corinthians 11:16 In-Context

14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,

15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Corinthians 7:17; S 1 Corinthians 10:32