20160912 Saturday, September 12 2016
1 Timothy 02: The Carnival Churches

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the LORD's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? Or despise ye the Church of God?"

The English-language word "carnival" originated from a Latin word, carnovale, that meant flesh. The words carnal ("fleshy") and carnivorous ("meat eater") originated from the same word. The original applied-meaning of carnival was a feast, but it later came to mean a wild gathering involving drunkenness and fornication.

The apostle Paul was appointed by the LORD (see Paul, The Apostle To The World) to preach the true Gospel (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?) where it was never heard before. If it was their time of calling, the people who heard him then began new lives as Christians (see Faith Is The Law), meeting together for the weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Days (see The Sabbaths, New Moons and Feasts Of The LORD).

Paul's work covered a wide area from Asia to Europe (see The Intercontinental Church Of God). His three major journeys were a circuit that joined where he was going to where he had been. This gave Paul the opportunity to meet with those who had become Christians earlier. All too often however, although he had left a church congregation, upon his return he sometimes found a social club - sometimes even to the extreme that it had become a flagrant carnival.

It happened in a number of places, including in this example with the congregations around Corinth (see The Christians Of Achaia). The Sabbath and Holy Days had become a party ("For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken") and a fashion show ("Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered" and "For if the woman be not covered") for them.

Paul then reminded them of how, as Christians, they should have been living according to the prophetic meaning of "church" (see Eve Was Created From Adam; What Woman Was Created From Jesus Christ?). Paul's admonition to them wasn't merely about how men and would should "act."

"11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 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. 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:1-34 KJV)

The same slide (see the Fact Finder question below) happened to the congregation at Thessalonica (see The Church Of Mount Olympus) where meetings had become a carnal contest - a carnival.

"2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Timothy 2:1-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "backsliding" mean?
See Backsliding The Way To The Top