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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 11:30 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Co 11:30	Strong Concordance	For [1223] this [5124] cause [1223] many [4183] are weak [772] and [2532] sickly [732] among [1722] you [5213], and [2532] many [2425] sleep [2837].
	King James	For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
weak . . . sickly--He is "weak" who has naturally no strength: "sickly," who has lost his strength by disease [TITTMANN, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]. sleep--are being lulled in death: not a violent death; but one the result of sickness, sent as the Lord's chastening for the individual's salvation, the mind being brought to a right state on the sick bed (Co1 11:31).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

weak . . . sickly--He is "weak" who has naturally no strength: "sickly," who has lost his strength by disease [TITTMANN, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament].

sleep--are being lulled in death: not a violent death; but one the result of sickness, sent as the Lord's chastening for the individual's salvation, the mind being brought to a right state on the sick bed (Co1 11:31).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For this cause - On account of the improper manner of celebrating the Lord's Supper; see Co1 11:21. Many are weak - (ἀσθενεῖς astheneis). Evidently referring to prevailing bodily sickness and disease. This is the natural and obvious interpretation of this passage. The sense clearly is, that God had sent among them bodily distempers as an expression of the divine displeasure and judgment for their improper mode of celebrating the Lord's Supper. That it was not uncommon in those times for God in an extraordinary manner to punish people with calamity, sickness, or death for their sins is evident from the New Testament; see the Co1 5:5 note; Act 5:1-10; Act 13:11 notes; Ti1 1:20 note; and perhaps Jo1 5:16 note; and Jam 5:14-15 notes. It may possibly have been the case that the intemperance and gluttony which prevailed on these occasions was the direct cause of no small part of the bodily disease which prevailed, and which in some cases terminated in death. And many sleep - Have died. The death of Christians in the Scriptures is commonly represented under the image of "sleep;" Dan, Co1 12:2; Joh 11:11-12; Co1 15:51; Th1 4:14; Th1 5:10. Perhaps it may be implied by the use of this mild term here, instead of the harsher word "death," that these were true Christians. This sentiment is in accordance with all that Paul states in regard to the church at Corinth. Notwithstanding all their irregularities, he does not deny that they were sincere Christians, and all his appeals and reasonings proceed on that supposition, though there was among them much ignorance and irregularity. God often visits his own people with trial; and though they are his children, yet this does not exempt them from affliction and discipline on account of their imperfections, errors, and sins. The "practical lesson" taught by this is, that Christians should serve God with purity; that they should avoid sin in every form; and that the commission of sin will expose them, as well as others, to the divine displeasure. The reason why this judgment was inflicted on the Corinthians was, that there might be a suitable impression made of the holy nature of that ordinance, and that Christians might be led to observe it in a proper manner. If it be asked whether God ever visits his people now with his displeasure for their improper manner of observing this ordinance, we may reply: (1) That we have no reason to suppose that he inflicts "bodily" diseases and corporeal punishments on account of it. But, (2) There is no reason to doubt that the improper observance of the Lord's Supper, like the improper observance of any other religious duty, will be followed with the expression of God's displeasure, and with a spiritual blightling on the soul. This may be evinced in the following modes: (a) In hardening the heart by an improper familiarity with the most sacred and solemn ordinances of religion. (b) Increased coldness and deadness in the service of God. If the ordinances of the gospel are not the means of making us better, they are the means of making us worse. (c) The loss of the favor of God, or of those pure, and spiritual, and elevated joys which we might have obtained by a proper observance of the ordinance. There is no reason to doubt that God may make it the occasion of manifesting his displeasure. It may be followed by a lack of spiritual comfort and peace; by a loss of communion with God; and by a withholding of those comforts from the soul which might have been enjoyed, and which are imparted to those who observe it in a proper manner. The general principle is, that an improper discharge of any duty will expose us to his displeasure, and to the certain loss of all those favors which might have resulted from a proper discharge of the duty, and to the tokens of the divine displeasure. And this is as true of prayer, or of any other religious duty, as of an improper observance of the Lord's Supper.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For this cause - On account of the improper manner of celebrating the Lord's Supper; see Co1 11:21.

Many are weak - (ἀσθενεῖς astheneis). Evidently referring to prevailing bodily sickness and disease. This is the natural and obvious interpretation of this passage. The sense clearly is, that God had sent among them bodily distempers as an expression of the divine displeasure and judgment for their improper mode of celebrating the Lord's Supper. That it was not uncommon in those times for God in an extraordinary manner to punish people with calamity, sickness, or death for their sins is evident from the New Testament; see the Co1 5:5 note; Act 5:1-10; Act 13:11 notes; Ti1 1:20 note; and perhaps Jo1 5:16 note; and Jam 5:14-15 notes. It may possibly have been the case that the intemperance and gluttony which prevailed on these occasions was the direct cause of no small part of the bodily disease which prevailed, and which in some cases terminated in death.

And many sleep - Have died. The death of Christians in the Scriptures is commonly represented under the image of "sleep;" Dan, Co1 12:2; Joh 11:11-12; Co1 15:51; Th1 4:14; Th1 5:10. Perhaps it may be implied by the use of this mild term here, instead of the harsher word "death," that these were true Christians. This sentiment is in accordance with all that Paul states in regard to the church at Corinth. Notwithstanding all their irregularities, he does not deny that they were sincere Christians, and all his appeals and reasonings proceed on that supposition, though there was among them much ignorance and irregularity. God often visits his own people with trial; and though they are his children, yet this does not exempt them from affliction and discipline on account of their imperfections, errors, and sins. The "practical lesson" taught by this is, that Christians should serve God with purity; that they should avoid sin in every form; and that the commission of sin will expose them, as well as others, to the divine displeasure. The reason why this judgment was inflicted on the Corinthians was, that there might be a suitable impression made of the holy nature of that ordinance, and that Christians might be led to observe it in a proper manner. If it be asked whether God ever visits his people now with his displeasure for their improper manner of observing this ordinance, we may reply:

(1) That we have no reason to suppose that he inflicts "bodily" diseases and corporeal punishments on account of it. But,

(2) There is no reason to doubt that the improper observance of the Lord's Supper, like the improper observance of any other religious duty, will be followed with the expression of God's displeasure, and with a spiritual blightling on the soul. This may be evinced in the following modes:

(a) In hardening the heart by an improper familiarity with the most sacred and solemn ordinances of religion.

(b) Increased coldness and deadness in the service of God. If the ordinances of the gospel are not the means of making us better, they are the means of making us worse.

(c) The loss of the favor of God, or of those pure, and spiritual, and elevated joys which we might have obtained by a proper observance of the ordinance.

There is no reason to doubt that God may make it the occasion of manifesting his displeasure. It may be followed by a lack of spiritual comfort and peace; by a loss of communion with God; and by a withholding of those comforts from the soul which might have been enjoyed, and which are imparted to those who observe it in a proper manner. The general principle is, that an improper discharge of any duty will expose us to his displeasure, and to the certain loss of all those favors which might have resulted from a proper discharge of the duty, and to the tokens of the divine displeasure. And this is as true of prayer, or of any other religious duty, as of an improper observance of the Lord's Supper.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Weak and sickly Physical visitations on account of profanation of the Lord's table. Many sleep (κοιμῶνται ἱκανοί) The word for many means, primarily, adequate, sufficient. See on Rom 15:23. Rev., not a few hardly expresses the ominous shading of the word: quite enough have died. Sleep. Better, are sleeping. Here simply as a synonym for are dead, without the peculiar restful sense which christian sentiment so commonly conveys into it. See on Act 7:60; see on Pe2 3:4.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For this cause - Which they had not observed. Many sleep - In death.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For this cause - That they partook of this sacred ordinance without discerning the Lord's body; many are weak and sickly: it is hard to say whether these words refer to the consequences of their own intemperance or to some extraordinary disorders inflicted immediately by God himself. That there were disorders of the most reprehensible kind among these people at this sacred supper, the preceding verses sufficiently point out; and after such excesses, many might be weak and sickly among them, and many might sleep, i.e. die; for continual experience shows us that many fall victims to their own intemperance. How ever, acting as they did in this solemn and awful sacrament, they might have "provoked God to plague them with divers diseases and sundry kinds of death." Communion service.

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³¹ For [1063] if [1487] we would judge [1252] ourselves [1438], we should [302] not [3756] be judged [2919].

¹⁰ Who [3588] died [599] for [5228] us [2257], that [2443], whether [1535] we wake [1127] or [1535] sleep [2518], we should live [2198] together [260] with [4862] him [846].

¹⁴ For [1063] if [1487] we believe [4100] that [3754] Jesus [2424] died [599] and [2532] rose again [450], even so [3779] them also [2532] which sleep [2837] in [1223] Jesus [2424] will [71] God [2316] bring [71] with [4862] him [846].

⁵¹ Behold [2400], I shew [3004] you [5213] a mystery [3466]; We shall [2837] not [3756] all [3956] [3303] sleep [2837], but [1161] we shall [236] all [3956] be changed [236],

¹¹ These things [5023] said [2036] he [846]: and [2532] after [3326] that [5124] he saith [3004] unto them [846], Our [2257] friend [5384] Lazarus [2976] sleepeth [2837]; but [235] I go [4198], that [2443] I may awake [1852] him [846] out of sleep [1852].
¹² Then [3767] said [2036] his [846] disciples [3101], Lord [2962], if [1487] he sleep [2837], he shall do well [4982].

² Ye know [1492] that [3754] ye were [2258] Gentiles [1484], carried away [520] unto [4314] these dumb [880] idols [1497], even as [5613] [302] ye were led [71].

¹⁴ Is [770] any [5100] sick [770] among [1722] you [5213]? let him call [4341] for the elders [4245] of the church [1577]; and [2532] let them pray [4336] over [1909] him [846], anointing [218] him [846] with oil [1637] in [1722] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962]:
¹⁵ And [2532] the prayer [2171] of faith [4102] shall save [4982] the sick [2577], and [2532] the Lord [2962] shall raise [1453] him [846] up [1453]; and if [2579] he have [5600] committed [4160] sins [266], they shall be forgiven [863] him [846].

¹⁶ If [1437] any man [5100] see [1492] his [846] brother [80] sin [264] a sin [266] which is not [3361] unto [4314] death [2288], he shall ask [154], and [2532] he shall give [1325] him [846] life [2222] for them that sin [264] not [3361] unto [4314] death [2288]. There is [2076] a sin [266] unto [4314] death [2288]: I do not [3756] say [3004] that [2443] he shall pray [2065] for [4012] it [1565].

²⁰ Of whom [3739] is [2076] Hymenaeus [5211] and [2532] Alexander [223]; whom [3739] I have delivered [3860] unto Satan [4567], that [2443] they may learn [3811] not [3361] to blaspheme [987].

¹¹ And [2532] now [3568], behold [2400], the hand [5495] of the Lord [2962] is upon [1909] thee [4571], and [2532] thou shalt be [2071] blind [5185], not [3361] seeing [991] the sun [2246] for [891] a season [2540]. And [1161] immediately [3916] there fell [1968] on [1909] him [846] a mist [887] and [2532] a darkness [4655]; and [2532] he went about [4013] seeking [2212] some to lead him by the hand [5497].

¹ But [1161] a certain [5100] man [435] named [3686] Ananias [367], with [4862] Sapphira [4551] his [846] wife [1135], sold [4453] a possession [2933],
² And [2532] kept back [3557] part of [575] the price [5092], his [846] wife [1135] also [2532] being privy [4894] to it, and [2532] brought [5342] a certain [5100] part [3313], and laid [5087] it at [3844] the apostles [652]' feet [4228].
³ But [1161] Peter [4074] said [2036], Ananias [367], why [1302] hath Satan [4567] filled [4137] thine [4675] heart [2588] [4571] to lie [5574] to the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] to keep back [3557] part of [575] the price [5092] of the land [5564]?
⁴ Whiles it remained [3306], was it not [3780] thine own [4671] [3306]? and [2532] after it was sold [4097], was it not [5225] in [1722] thine own [4674] power [1849]? why [5101] [3754] hast thou conceived [5087] this [5124] thing [4229] in [1722] thine [4675] heart [2588]? thou hast [5574] not [3756] lied [5574] unto men [444], but [235] unto God [2316].
⁵ And [1161] Ananias [367] hearing [191] these [5128] words [3056] fell down [4098], and gave up the ghost [1634]: and [2532] great [3173] fear [5401] came [1096] on [1909] all [3956] them that heard [191] these things [5023].
⁶ And [1161] the young men [3501] arose [450], wound [4958] him [846] up [4958], and [2532] carried him out [1627], and buried [2290] him.
⁷ And [1161] it was [1096] about [5613] the space [1292] of three [5140] hours [5610] after [1292], when [2532] his [846] wife [1135], not [3361] knowing [1492] what was done [1096], came in [1525].
⁸ And [1161] Peter [4074] answered [611] unto her [846], Tell [2036] me [3427] whether [1487] ye sold [591] the land [5564] for so much [5118]? And [1161] she said [2036], Yea [3483], for so much [5118].
⁹ Then [1161] Peter [4074] said [2036] unto [4314] her [846], How [5101] is it that [3754] ye [5213] have agreed together [4856] to tempt [3985] the Spirit [4151] of the Lord [2962]? behold [2400], the feet [4228] of them which have buried [2290] thy [4675] husband [435] are at [1909] the door [2374], and [2532] shall carry [1627] thee [4571] out [1627].
¹⁰ Then [1161] fell she down [4098] straightway [3916] at [3844] his [846] feet [4228], and [2532] yielded up the ghost [1634]: and [1161] the young men [3495] came in [1525], and found [2147] her [846] dead [3498], and [2532], carrying her forth [1627], buried [2290] her by [4314] her [846] husband [435].

⁵ To deliver [3860] such an one [5108] unto Satan [4567] for [1519] the destruction [3639] of the flesh [4561], that [2443] the spirit [4151] may be saved [4982] in [1722] the day [2250] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].

²¹ For [1063] in [1722] eating [5315] every one [1538] taketh before [4301] other his own [2398] supper [1173]: and [2532] one [3739] [3303] is hungry [3983], and [1161] another [3739] is drunken [3184].

⁴ And [2532] saying [3004], Where [4226] is [2076] the promise [1860] of his [846] coming [3952]? for [1063] since [575] [3739] the fathers [3962] fell asleep [2837], all things [3956] continue [3779] [1265] as they were from [575] the beginning [746] of the creation [2937].

⁶⁰ And [1161] he kneeled down [5087] [1119], and cried [2896] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Lord [2962], lay [2476] not [3361] this [5026] sin [266] to their [846] charge. And [2532] when he had said [2036] this [5124], he fell asleep [2837].

²³ But [1161] now [3570] having [2192] no more [3371] place [5117] in [1722] these [575] [5125] parts [2824], and [1161] having [2192] a great desire [1974] these many [4183] years [2094] to come [2064] unto [4314] you [5209];