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11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.(A)

Head Coverings

I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.(B) But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man[a] is the head of the woman,[b] and God is the head of Christ.(C) Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head shames his head,(D) but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled shames her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection[c] of God, but woman is the reflection[d] of man.(E) Indeed, man was not made from woman but woman from man.(F) Neither was man created for the sake of woman but woman for the sake of man.(G) 10 For this reason a woman ought to have authority over her head,[e] because of the angels.(H) 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, but all things come from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that, if a man wears long hair, it is dishonoring to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.(I)

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

17 Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.(J) 19 Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.(K) 20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For when the time comes to eat, each of you proceeds to eat your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 What! Do you not have households to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,(L) 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(M)

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.(N) 28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.(O) 29 For all who eat and drink[g] without discerning the body[h] eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30 For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[i] 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.(P) 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.(Q)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If you are hungry, eat at home,[k] so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.(R)

Footnotes

  1. 11.3 Or husband
  2. 11.3 Or wife
  3. 11.7 Or glory
  4. 11.7 Or glory
  5. 11.10 Or have freedom of choice regarding her head
  6. 11.24 Other ancient authorities read is broken for
  7. 11.29 Other ancient authorities add in an unworthy manner,
  8. 11.29 Other ancient authorities read the Lord’s body
  9. 11.30 Gk fallen asleep
  10. 11.32 Or When we are judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord
  11. 11.34 Gk in a household

Christian Order

11 (A)Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Now (B)I praise you because you (C)remember me in everything and (D)hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you. But I want you to understand that Christ is the (E)head of every man, and [a](F)the man is the head of a woman, and God is the (G)head of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or (H)prophesying disgraces his head. But every (I)woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for it is one and the same as the woman [b]whose head is (J)shaved. For if a woman does not cover [c]her head, have her also [d]cut her hair off; however, if it is disgraceful for a woman to [e]have her hair cut off or [f]her head shaved, have her cover [g]her head. For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the (K)image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For (L)man [h]does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but (M)woman for the man’s sake. 10 Therefore the woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman [i]independent of man, nor is man [j]independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originated from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and (N)all things originate (O)from God. 13 (P)Judge [k]for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, (Q)we have no [l]such practice, nor have (R)the churches of God.

17 Now in giving this next instruction (S)I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together [m]as a church, I hear that [n](T)divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also (U)have to be factions among you, (V)so that those who are approved may become [o]evident among you. 20 Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while (W)another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the (X)church of God and (Y)shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall (Z)I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

The Lord’s Supper

23 For (AA)I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that (AB)the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He also took (AC)the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the (AD)new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death (AE)until He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, shall be (AF)guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a person must (AG)examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the [p]body. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number [q](AH)are asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are (AI)disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with (AJ)the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is (AK)hungry, have him eat (AL)at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will (AM)give instructions (AN)when I come.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:3 Or the head of a woman is her husband
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:5 Lit who is shaved
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit shear herself
  5. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit shear herself
  6. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  7. 1 Corinthians 11:6 Lit herself
  8. 1 Corinthians 11:8 Lit is not from
  9. 1 Corinthians 11:11 Lit without
  10. 1 Corinthians 11:11 Lit without
  11. 1 Corinthians 11:13 Lit among
  12. 1 Corinthians 11:16 I.e., the one advocated by Paul’s opponents
  13. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Lit in church
  14. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or dissensions
  15. 1 Corinthians 11:19 Or recognizable
  16. 1 Corinthians 11:29 I.e., body of the Lord
  17. 1 Corinthians 11:30 I.e., are dead