NOTES for Co1 11:19

These words of the apostle Paul are amazingly relevant now, just as they were relevant in the mid-50s of the first century. In this part of the chapter, the apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians about liturgical life and emphasizes that if differences of opinion are necessary, then divisions on their basis, on the contrary, are inadmissible. Forgetting these words of the apostle, we often instinctively think and act exactly the opposite way: we consider differences of opinion inadmissible, and separation from those who think differently necessary.

In Greek, and also in Slavonic, this phrase of the apostle sounds altogether striking, especially against the background of Christian history. The Slavonic version, "For there must also be heresies among you, that the approved may be made manifest among you," is, as usual, essentially an interlinear rendering of the Greek. The latter in fact contains the word aeresis, heresy. It was used in three close but not identical meanings: a) choice, freedom of choice; b) elections, chosen persons; c) tendencies, currents, directions, schools. In the conciliar age the first two meanings receded into the background among Christians, but in the first century they were still fully in use. The word carries no negative shade in itself, which is why the apostle speaks of these aeresis as a necessary, and one could translate even "desirable," thing. The Slavonic text, and the Vulgate too, incidentally, generally prefer not to translate it but to transmit it directly, leaving the reader to understand it. The Synodal translation offers the narrowed interpretation "differences of opinion," considering that the apostle is speaking of differences of views that must not serve as a cause for division. Yet one cannot exclude the possibility that the apostle is speaking of elections of officeholders in the Corinthian community that led to division into supporters of different persons.

In any case, what is fundamental for us is that the apostle characterizes personal preferences and/or differences of opinion as a normal phenomenon for Christians. He explains that this is needed so that among us the tested, verified, genuine ones may be revealed. We think in human terms that if the tested ones are revealed, then the rest are consequently counted as those who have failed the test, that is, unfit, with the corresponding "organizational conclusions." The apostle does not mean this at all. What matters to him is to see the tested and verified, so that, while preserving unity as a great treasure, we may follow their example and their choice.

In addition, for us, especially for those who grew up under the Bolsheviks, that is, almost for everyone, it is important to understand that differences of opinion are recognized as necessary in a single church community, which Paul calls to keep one Eucharist, that is, within Christianity. It usually seems to us that Christianity is a teaching or an ideology in which differences of opinion simply cannot exist. But they not only can exist; they are even needed. In fact, this is very understandable: the Lord planted the Church in a changing world, which changes both by itself and under the gracious action of the Creator. And the path of Christian life in it has to be chosen every day.