1 Corinthians 11 · Verse 16

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Corinthians 11:16, King James Version

1 Corinthians 11:16 in other translations

BSBIf anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
WEBBut if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
ASVBut if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
YLTand if any one doth think to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the assemblies of God.
DARBYBut if any one think to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor the assemblies of God.
BBEBut if any man will not be ruled in this question, this is not our way of doing things, and it is not done in the churches of God.
WebsterBut if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

What does 1 Corinthians 11:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. A summary close to the argument by appeal to the universal custom of the churches. if any ... seem--The Greek also means "thinks" (fit) (compare Mt 3:9). If any man chooses (still after all my arguments) to be contentious. If any be contentious and thinks himself right in being so. A reproof of the Corinthians' self-sufficiency and disputatiousness (1Co 1:20). we--apostles: or we of the Jewish nation, from whom ye have received the Gospel, and whose usages in all that is good ye ought to follow: Jewish women veiled themselves when in public, according to Tertullian [Estius]. The former explanation is best, as the Jews are not referred to in the context: but he often refers to himself and his fellow apostles, by the expression, "we--us" (1Co 4:9, 10). no such custom--as that of women praying uncovered. Not as Chrysostom, "that of being contentious." The Greek term implies a usage, rather than a mental habit (Joh 18:39). The usage of true "churches (plural: not, as Rome uses it, 'the Church,' as an abstract entity; but 'the churches,' as a number of independent witnesses) of God" (the churches which God Himself recognizes), is a valid argument in the case of external rites, especially, negatively, for example, Such rites were not received among them, therefore, ought not to be admitted among us: but in questions of doctrine, or the essentials of worship, the argument is not valid [Sclater] (1Co 7:17; 14:33). neither--nor yet. Catholic usage is not an infallible test of truth, but a general test of decency.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. But if any man seem to be contentious. The sense of this passage is probably this: "If any man, any teacher, or others, is disposed to be strenuous about this, or to make it a matter of difficulty; if he is disposed to call in question my reasoning, and to dispute my premises and the considerations which I have advanced, and to maintain still that it is proper for women to appear unveiled in public, I would add, that in Judea we have no such custom, neither does it prevail among any of the churches. This, therefore, would be a sufficient reasons why it should not be done in Corinth, even if the abstract reasoning should not convince them of the impropriety. It would be singular; would be contrary to the usual custom; would offend the prejudices of many; and should, therefore, be avoided."

We have no such custom. We the apostles in the churches which we have elsewhere founded; or we have no such custom in Judea. The sense is, that it is contrary to custom there for women to appear in public unveiled. This custom, the apostle argues, ought to be allowed to have some influence on the church of Corinth, even though they should not be convinced by his reasoning.

Neither the churches of God. The churches elsewhere. It is customary there for the woman to appear veiled. If at Corinth this custom is not observed, it will be a departure from what has elsewhere been regarded as proper; and will offend these churches. Even, therefore, if the reasoning is not sufficient to silence all cavils and doubts, yet the propriety of uniformity in the habits of the churches, the fear of giving offence, should lead you to discountenance and disapprove the custom of your females appearing in public without their veil.

(a) "But if any man" 1Timm 6:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 But if any man seem to be contentious - Ει δε τις δοκει φιλονεικος ειναι· If any person sets himself up as a wrangler - puts himself forward as a defender of such points, that a woman may pray or teach with her head uncovered, and that a man may, without reproach, have long hair; let him know that we have no such custom as either, nor are they sanctioned by any of the Churches of God, whether among the Jews or the Gentiles. We have already seen that the verb δοκειν, which we translate to seem, generally strengthens and increases the sense. From the attention that the apostle has paid to the subject of veils and hair, it is evident that it must have occasioned considerable disturbance in the Church of Corinth. They have produced evil effects in much later times.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

Here begin particulars respecting the public assemblies, ch. 1Co 14. In the abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed on the Corinthians, some abuses had crept in; but as Christ did the will, and sought the honour of God, so the Christian should avow his subjection to Christ, doing his will and seeking his glory. We should, even in our dress and habit, avoid every thing that may dishonour Christ. The woman was made…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 →

1 Corinthians 11:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487
δέdenowG1161
τιςtisanyoneG5100
δοκεῖdokeiis inclinedG1380
φιλόνεικοςphiloneikoscontentiousG5380
εἶναι,einaito be,G1511
ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165
τοιαύτηνtoiautēnsuchG5108
συνήθειανsunētheiancustomG4914
οὐκoukno [other]G3756
ἔχομενechomenhaveG2192
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
αἱhaitheG3588
ἐκκλησίαιekklēsiaichurchesG1577
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.¶theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 11:16

  • 1 Corinthians 7:17

    But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

  • 1 Timothy 6:3-4

    If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:14

    For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33-34

    For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

  • Acts 21:24

    Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

  • Acts 21:21

    And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:1

    Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
seem.
1Ti 6:3,4
such.
Ac 21:21,24
the churches.
7:17; 14:33,34; 16:1; 1Th 2:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 11:15

    But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:16

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

  • 1 Corinthians 11:17

    Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Con todo eso, si alguno parece ser contencioso, nosotros no tenemos tal costumbre, ni las iglesias de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais si quelqu’un paraît vouloir contester, nous, nous n’avons pas une telle coutume, ni les assemblées de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn es aber jemanden gut dünkt, streitsüchtig zu sein, so haben wir solche Gewohnheit nicht, noch die Versammlungen Gottes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si quis autem videtur contentiosus esse: nos talem consuetudinem non habemus, neque ecclesia Dei.