1 Corinthians 11:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Not content with this, he adds a more fearful thought: “that you may not come together,” he says, “for judgment.” That is, do not gather for condemnation, and do not bring punishment on yourselves by offending the Church and shaming your brother.

You gather in order to show love to one another, to receive benefit and to bring benefit. If the opposite happens, then it is better for you to be filled at home. He says this in order to draw them more strongly.

For this reason he pointed to the harm that comes from this, proved that it is no small sin, and instilled fear from every side: from the Mysteries, the sick, the dying, and the other things said above.

Then he again instills fear in another way: “The rest,” he says, “I will set in order when I come,” meaning either something else or the same matter. Since they were probably offering other reasons, and it was impossible to arrange everything by letter, he says: for now let it be observed as I have taught.

If you have something else to say, let it remain until my coming. He says this, as I have said, either about the same matter or about certain other matters of no great importance. He acts in this way so that by this very means he may make them more attentive.

Awaiting his arrival, they could correct their shortcomings, because Paul’s arrival was no small matter. He himself shows this when he says, “Some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you” (1 Cor 4:18). In another place he says: “Not only in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12).

He does not simply promise to come, lest they doubt and fall into carelessness. He presents the reason that makes his arrival necessary: “The rest I will set in order when I come.” By this he suggests that, even if he were not disposed to go to them, the necessity of correcting the remaining matters draws him there.

“And the rest I will set in order when I come.” He is speaking either of some other faults that existed among them and required arrangement, or of this very matter, since some would probably defend themselves against what had been said.

For now, however, what I have said must be observed. If anyone has something else to say, let him await my arrival. He frightens them by his arrival so that they may humble themselves and correct themselves, if they have anything bad.

The Apostle says, “I will set in order,” and by this gives us the thought that the support of apostolic tradition lies in Church order. For this reason it could not be obscured, forgotten, or distorted, because Church life was ordered according to it. Church institutions were founded on it.

Thus, in the sacred rites, prayers, and symbols of faith handed down by the Apostles for Church use, dogmas were expressed. In the order of elevation to sacred ranks, in the order of judgment over those who sin, and the like, other truths of apostolic tradition were expressed.

“It is time for those who love to repeat, ‘Show where it is written,’ to come to their senses” (Bishop Theophan). Lutherans, who reject Church tradition, especially love to repeat this.

1 Cor 11:34. This is a concession to weakness. If your need is so great that, after eating what falls to your share at the common meal, you feel hungry, then eat at home. But do not permit sin in the assembly, because it is not safe to come together for sin (Bishop Theophan).

St. Chrysostom says that the Apostle said this in order to put the Corinthians to shame.

St. Chrysostom notes that the Apostle said this in order “to put them to shame. By giving such permission, he forbids even more strongly than by a direct prohibition. He drives them out of the church, sends them home, and thus strikes them sharply, presenting them as slaves of the belly and intemperate.

“He did not say: if anyone neglects the poor, but: ‘if anyone is hungry,’ reasoning as though with impatient children or with irrational animals that serve the belly. Not content with this, he adds a more fearful thought: ‘that you may not come together for sin,’ he says, that you may not gather for condemnation and bring punishment upon yourselves by offending the Church and shaming your brother.

“You gather in order to show love to one another, to receive benefit and to bring benefit. If the opposite happens, then it is better for you to be filled at home. He says this in order to dispose them more toward communion.

“For this reason he pointed to the harm that comes from lack of communion, proved that it is no small sin, and instilled fear from every side: from the Mysteries, the sick, the dying, and the other things said above.”

“As to the rest, I will set it in order when I come.” “For it was not possible to write about everything. Having written about what was more necessary, the Apostle reserved the rest until his arrival” (Theodoret).

“But by this he again instills fear. What does he promise to set in order? Either something else, or the same matter. Since they were probably offering other reasons, and it was impossible to arrange everything by letter, he says: for now let it be observed as I have taught. If you have something else to say, let it remain until my coming.

“He says this, as I have said, either about the same matter or about certain other matters of no great importance. He acts in this way so that by this very means he may make them more attentive.

“Awaiting his arrival, they could correct their shortcomings, for Paul’s arrival was no small matter. He does not merely promise to come. So that they may not doubt or fall into carelessness, he also presents the reason that makes his arrival necessary: ‘I will come and set it in order.’

“By this he suggests that, even if he were not disposed to go to them, the necessity of correcting the remaining matters compels him to come there” (St. Chrysostom).

Whatever this ordering concerned, one cannot fail to see from it that everything essential in Church order comes from the Apostles. It is time for those who love to repeat, “Show where it is written,” to come to their senses.