Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:2

"Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you." — 1 Corinthians 11:2 (ASV)

Now I praise you, brethren. Paul always chose to commend Christians when it could be done, and never seemed to suppose that such praise would be injurious to them (see my comments on 1 Corinthians 1:4 and 1 Corinthians 1:5).

On this occasion, he was all the more ready to praise them, as far as it could be done, because there were some things regarding them for which he would need to reprove them.

That ye remember me in all things: that you are disposed to regard my authority and seek my direction in all matters pertaining to the good order of the church.

There can be little doubt that they had consulted him in their letter (1 Corinthians 7:1) about the proper manner in which a woman ought to conduct herself if she was called, under the influence of Divine inspiration, to utter anything in public.

The question seems to have been whether, since she was inspired, it was proper for her to retain the marks of her inferiority of rank and remain covered. Or, did the fact of her inspiration release her from that obligation, making it proper that she should lay aside her veil and appear as public speakers did among men? The apostle probably refers to this in the phrase "all things"—that even in matters of this kind, pertaining to the good order of the church, they were disposed to regard his authority.

And keep the ordinances. (In the margin: Traditions, tav paradoseiv). The word does not refer to anything that had been handed down from a former generation or from former times, as the word tradition now usually signifies. Instead, it means that which had been delivered to them (paradidwmi), that is, by the apostles.

The apostles had delivered to them certain doctrines or rules respecting the good order and government of the church; and they had, in general, observed them and were still disposed to do so.

For this disposition to regard his authority and to keep what he had enjoined, he commends them. He then proceeds to specify what would be proper regarding the particular subject on which they had inquired.