What are the churches of God in 1 Corinthians 11:16?

In 1 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul continues to address some of the controversies arising in the Corinthian church, specifically regarding worship and community conduct. In verses 3–16, he deals with the issue of head coverings for women during public worship, a cultural custom that symbolized submission to God’s order of headship and authority in the church. Paul’s advice was that the women of Corinth should cover their heads in worship out of respect and honor for fellow worshipers and God. He concludes this section, stating, “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11:16).

Paul expected some of the Corinthians to argue his point; therefore, he aimed to resolve the matter once and for all by referencing the widespread practice of the established Christian churches. To quell objections, Paul invoked not only his authority but also that of all the leaders of the various Christian assemblies and congregations recognized as belonging to God. By appealing to the commonly accepted practices among all these Christian communities, Paul emphasized unity in worship. The standards Paul put forth were not unique to Corinth but were observed by God’s churches everywhere.

Paul had no other acceptable custom or practice to recommend than the one he had already given the Corinthians. The New Living Translation states, “But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.” Paul asserts that these customs and teachings were grounded in apostolic authority and the collective wisdom of the Christian movement, rather than merely his own personal opinion or local custom.

Paul refers to the churches of God to reinforce that the Corinthian congregation should not consider itself free to construct its own identity or practices independently of the collective body of Christ. Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for becoming “imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did” (1 Thessalonians 2:14, ESV). Paul boasted about these same believers “in the churches of God for [their] steadfastness and faith in all [their] persecutions and in the afflictions that [they were] enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:4, ESV).

The “church of God” is a single, united, universal body of believers, belonging to God Himself. This term should serve as a reminder that, as God’s family, we are all under God’s divine authority and guidance. Churches are not like other human organizations. Their traditions and teachings are meant to reflect their unified relationship to God. For this reason, Paul appeals to “the churches of God” to encourage harmony and discourage contentiousness over matters of custom. He is asking the Corinthians to align themselves with the wider Christian practice, even when addressing local issues, thus fostering unity and minimizing disputes over non-essential matters.

Today, women may no longer wear a head covering to demonstrate their submission to God and His succession of authority in the church. Nevertheless, men and women alike are still called to submit to God’s headship and His order of authority in the church. The practices may look different in different eras and regions of the world. Still, in every culture and congregation, we are to show respect for one another in worship through acceptable, God-honoring customs and standards of behavior. The important thing is our heartfelt submission to the Lord and the public manifestation of our obedience to God’s order.

In summary, the churches of God in 1 Corinthians 11:16 refer to the various Christian congregations, unified by faith in Jesus Christ and the apostolic teaching, that were spread throughout the ancient world. These individual churches were not to see themselves as lone ranger entities, above or outside of the general Christian tradition. Paul references these churches of God to promote a sense of solidarity, tradition, and submission to shared standards of worship behavior. He gently reminds the Corinthians that their public worship is part of a larger community, bound together by their identity in God.