What role does discernment play in interpreting "judge for yourselves" in 1 Corinthians 11:13? Setting the Scene • Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 centers on orderly worship and the visible signs of headship. • Verse 13: “Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” • “Judge” (Greek krínō) calls believers to discern with spiritually informed judgment, not merely personal opinion. What “Judge for Yourselves” Invites • Personal engagement: each believer weighs the matter, not ignoring apostolic instruction but internalizing it. • Recognition of evident truth: Paul assumes the Corinthians can see the fittingness of his teaching when they look at creation order and established practice. • Responsibility before God: discernment is exercised in submission to divine revelation, never in opposition to it. Biblical Foundations of Discernment • 1 Corinthians 2:15 – “The spiritual man judges all things.” • Hebrews 5:14 – mature believers “have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil.” • Philippians 1:9-10 – love must “abound… in knowledge and every kind of discernment” so we may “approve what is excellent.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “but test all things; hold fast to what is good.” • Acts 17:11 – the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily to verify truth. How Discernment Operates in 1 Corinthians 11 1. Rooted in creation (vv. 7-9). • Paul points to how God ordered male and female from the beginning; discernment weighs this revealed design. 2. Guided by apostolic tradition (v. 2). • “Hold to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.” Discernment submits to inspired teaching. 3. Confirmed by nature’s testimony (v. 14). • Natural distinctions reinforce the principle; believers perceive this as common-sense evidence. 4. Sensitive to the angels (v. 10). • Spiritual realities are at stake; wise judgment considers unseen realms. 5. Guarding corporate witness (vv. 16). • Discernment keeps the churches unified in practice, avoiding contentiousness. Guidelines for Practicing Discernment Today • Begin with Scripture: accept its plain statements before entertaining alternative interpretations. • Compare passage with passage; Scripture interprets Scripture (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:15 “I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves”). • Seek the Spirit’s illumination (John 16:13) while remembering that the Spirit never contradicts the written Word. • Examine created distinctions and moral order as God’s ongoing witnesses. • Weigh historic church practice; the early churches shared a unified understanding of headship symbols. • Reject purely cultural relativism when the text grounds its command in creation, not custom. Key Takeaways • “Judge for yourselves” is a summons to Spirit-guided, Scripture-anchored discernment, not autonomous opinion. • Discernment verifies and embraces apostolic teaching, recognizing its consistency with creation and nature. • Proper judgment leads to obedient practice, preserving God-ordained order and testimony in worship. |
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