Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 11:18

What does 1 Corinthians 11:18 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 11:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 11:18 means

Paul reports that when they come together as a church, there are divisions among them, and he partly believes the reports. The very setting—gathered worship—magnifies the scandal. The Lord’s Table should be the place where the body is most visibly one, yet factions intrude. Paul neither dismisses the issue nor exaggerates. He acknowledges that evidence points toward real fractures. Disunity in the assembly betrays a failure to discern the body. It prepares the ground for the specific ways their practice has denied the gospel’s equalizing grace and has humiliated the poor among them.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For first of all, it has come to my ears that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you, and I take the statement to be true in part.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for first, indeed, ye coming together in an assembly, I hear of divisions being among you, and partly I believe <FI>it<Fi> ,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For first of all I hear that when you come together in the church, there are schisms among you. And in part I believe it.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For first, when ye come together in assembly, I hear there exist divisions among you, and I partly give credit [to it].

Context

This verse identifies the central problem behind their harmful gatherings. It connects with Corinth’s broader issue of factions, now invading the sacramental meal. Verse 19 will interpret God’s purpose in permitting such divisions—to reveal those who are genuine. Then verses 20–22 will spell out how their conduct has made the Lord’s Supper impossible in any true sense and call them to shame for despising the church of God.

v.17But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.

v.18This passage

v.19For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:1

    Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1

    It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that oneof you hath his father’s wife.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

  • 1 Corinthians 1:10

    Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

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