1 Corinthians 11:19

King James Version (KJV)

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

There must be also heresies - Αἱρεσεις· Not a common consent of the members of the Church, either in the doctrines of the Gospel, or in the ceremonies of the Christian religion. Their difference in religious opinion led to a difference in their religious practice, and thus the Church of God, that should have been one body, was split into sects and parties. The divisions and the heresies sprung out of each other. I have spoken largely on the word heresy in Acts 5:17; (note), to which place I beg leave to refer the reader.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

For there must be - It is necessary ( δεῖ dei); it is to he expected; there are reasons why there should be. What these reasons are he states in the close of the verse; compare Matthew 18:7; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:2. The meaning is, not that divisions are inseparable from the nature of the Christian religion, not that it is the design and wish of the Author of Christianity that they should exist, and not that they are physically impossible, for then they could not be the subject of blame; but that such is human nature, such are the corrupt passions of men, the propensity to ambition and strifes, that they are to be expected, and they serve the purpose of showing who are, and who are not, the true friends of God.

Heresies - Margin, “Sects.” Greek Αἱρεσεις Haireseissee the note at Acts 24:14. The words “heresy” and “heresies” occur only in these places, and in Galatians 5:20; 2 Peter 2:1. The Greek word occurs also in Acts 5:17 (translated “sect”); Acts 15:5; Acts 24:5; Acts 26:5; Acts 28:22, in all which places it denotes, and is translated, “sect.” We now attach to the word usually the idea of a fundamental error in religion, or some “doctrine” the holding of which will exclude from salvation. But there is no evidence that the word is used in this signification in the New Testament. The only place where it can be supposed to be so used, unless this is one, is in Galatians 5:20, where, however, the word “contentions” or “divisions,” would be quite as much in accordance with the connection. That the word here does not denote error in doctrine, but schism, division, or “sects,” as it is translated in the margin, is evident from two considerations:

(1) It is the proper philological meaning of the word, and its established and common signification in the Bible.

(2) it is the sense which the connection here demands. The apostle had made no reference to error of doctrine, but is discoursing solely of “irregularity” in “conduct;” and the first thing which he mentions, is, that there were schisms, divisions, strifes. The idea that the word here refers to “doctrines” would by no means suit the connection, and would indeed make nonsense. It would then read, “I hear that there are divisions or parties among you, and this I cannot commend you for. For it must he expected that there would be “fundamental errors of doctrine” in the church.” But Paul did not reason in this manner. The sense is, “There are divisions among you. It is to be expected: there are causes for it; and it cannot he avoided that there should be, in the present state of human nature, divisions and sects formed in the church; and this is to be expected in order that those who are true Christians should be separated from those who are not.” The foundation of this necessity is not in the Christian religion itself, for that is pure, and contemplates and requires union; but the existence of sects, and denominations, and contentious may be traced to the following causes:

(1) The love of power and popularity. Religion may be made the means of power; and they who have the control of the consciences of people, and of their religious feelings and opinions, can control them altogether.

(2) showing more respect to a religious teacher than to Christ; see Notes on 1 Corinthians 1:12.

(3) the multiplication of tests, and the enlargement of creeds and confessions of faith. The consequence is, that every new doctrine that is incorporated into a creed gives occasion for those to separate who cannot accord with it.

(4) the passions of people - their pride, and ambition, and bigotry, and unenlightened zeal. Christ evidently meant that his church should be one; and that all who were his true followers should be admitted to her communion, and acknowledged everywhere as his own friends. And the time may yet come when this union shall be restored to his long distracted church, and that while there may be an honest difference of opinion maintained and allowed, still the bonds of Christian love shall secure union of “heart” in all who love the Lord Jesus, and union of “effort” in the grand enterprise in which all can unite - that of making war upon sin, and securing the conversion of the whole world to God.

That they which are approved - That they who are approved of God, or who are his true friends, and who are disposed to abide by his laws.

May be made manifest - May be known; recognized; seen. The effect of divisions and separations would be to show who were the friends of order, and peace, and truth. It seems to have been assumed by Paul, that they who made divisions could not be regarded as the friends of order and truth; or that their course could not be approved by God. The effect of these divisions would be to show who they were. So in all divisions, and all splitting into factions, where the great truths of Christianity are held, and where the corruption of the mass does not require separation, such divisions show who are the restless, ambitious, and dissatisfied spirits; who they are that are indisposed to follow the things that make for peace, and the laws of Christ enjoining union; and who they are who are gentle and peaceful, and disposed to pursue the way of truth, and love, and order, without contentions and strifes. This is the effect of schisms in the church; and the whole strain of the argument of Paul is to reprove and condemn such schisms, and to hold up the authors of them to reproof and condemnation; see Romans 16:17, “Mark them which cause divisions, and avoid them.”

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The apostle rebukes the disorders in their partaking of the Lord's supper. The ordinances of Christ, if they do not make us better, will be apt to make us worse. If the use of them does not mend, it will harden. Upon coming together, they fell into divisions, schisms. Christians may separate from each other's communion, yet be charitable one towards another; they may continue in the same communion, yet be uncharitable. This last is schism, rather than the former. There is a careless and irregular eating of the Lord's supper, which adds to guilt. Many rich Corinthians seem to have acted very wrong at the Lord's table, or at the love-feasts, which took place at the same time as the supper. The rich despised the poor, and ate and drank up the provisions they brought, before the poor were allowed to partake; thus some wanted, while others had more than enough. What should have been a bond of mutual love and affection, was made an instrument of discord and disunion. We should be careful that nothing in our behaviour at the Lord's table, appears to make light of that sacred institution. The Lord's supper is not now made an occasion for gluttony or revelling, but is it not often made the support of self-righteous pride, or a cloak for hypocrisy? Let us never rest in the outward forms of worship; but look to our hearts.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

19. Heresies. Gr. haireseis, singular hairesis. Originally hairesis meant “choosing,” “choice,” then “that which is chosen,” “opinion.” Later it came to signify a group of people holding to a particular opinion, a sect, a party. Here the word is probably used, not in a bad sense, as referring to opinions. When a number of individuals of various backgrounds associate closely in Christian fellowship, there will of necessity be varying degrees of appreciation of truth. These different degrees of understanding of the principles of the gospel give rise to discussion. Discussions may have wholesome effects and need not lead to divisions.

They which are approved. That is, those who are willing to obey God and to cooperate with Him. Divisions in the church have the effect of revealing those who are restless, ambitious, and dissatisfied, those who are not willing to be led by the Holy Spirit, but who seek to do their own will, and are not prepared to abandon their own opinions for the sake of peace and harmony in the church. Individuals of this type are to be avoided (see on Rom. 16:17). On the other hand, there are those who recognize their own natural sinfulness and who are unwilling to place any confidence in their own opinions, realizing the danger of being influenced by the impulses, desires, and inclinations of unconverted flesh. Such church members declare themselves to be in favor of peaceful and happy compliance with all the instruction of God (see Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16, 17, 19-26). During the world-shaking events that will usher in the close of earth’s history, when all men will be required to demonstrate their allegiance, many whose fidelity to truth has passed almost unnoticed will then shine like brilliant stars on a dark night (see 5T 80, 81).

Made manifest. The presence in the Corinthian church of some who were out of harmony with the mind of Christ, necessitated bringing into the open differences of belief that would stimulate believers to earnest search for a knowledge of God’s will, and that would lead to a disclosure of those who refused to be led by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 2:34, 35; 1 John 2:18, 19). Thus the presence of doctrinal differences, and various opinions relative to correct methods of procedure in the church, served as a means of sifting the church and separating the chaff from the wheat.

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