1 Corinthians 11-12

Christian Standard Bible

11 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.^(A)

Instructions about Head Coverings

² Now I praise you^[a] because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions^(B) just as I delivered^(C) them to you. ³ But I want you to know that Christ is the head^(D) of every man, and the man is the head of the woman,^[b](E) and God is the head of Christ.^{(F) 4} Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors^(G) his head. ⁵ Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.^{(H) 6} For if a woman doesn’t cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her head be covered.

⁷ A man should not cover his head, because he is the image^(I) and glory of God.^(J) So too, woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.^{(K) 9} Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. ¹⁰ This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. ¹² For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.^(L)

¹³ Judge^(M) for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach^(N) you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace^(O) to him, ¹⁵ but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?^(P) For her hair is given to her^[c] as a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other^[d] custom, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving this instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ Indeed, it is necessary that there be factions^(Q) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ²⁰ When you come together, then, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.^{(R) 21} For at the meal, each one eats his own supper.^[e] So one person is hungry while another gets drunk! ²² Don’t you have homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:^(S) On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said,^[f] “This is my body, which is^[g] for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”^(T)

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant^(U) in my blood.^(V) 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^(W) until he comes.^(X)

Self-Examination

²⁷ So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body^[h] and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,^[i] eats and drinks judgment^(Y) on himself. ³⁰ This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.^{(Z) 31} If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, ³² but when we are judged^(AA) by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned^(AB) with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another.^{[j] 34} If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.^(AC)

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts:^[k] brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you used to be enticed and led astray by mute^(AD) idols.^{(AE) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts,^(AF) but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. ⁷ A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person^(AG) for the common good: ⁸ to one^(AH) is given a message of wisdom^(AI) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing^(AJ) by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another, the performing of miracles,^(AK) to another, prophecy,^(AL) to another, distinguishing between spirits,^(AM) to another, different kinds of tongues,^[l] to another, interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

¹² For just as the body is one^(AN) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^{(AO) 13} For we were all baptized by^[m] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink.^{(AP) 14} Indeed, the body is not one part but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted.^{(AQ) 19} And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. ²³ And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable,^(AR) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, ²⁴ which our respectable parts do not need.

Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, ²⁵ so that there would be no division^(AS) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. ²⁶ So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(AT) and individual members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church:^(AU) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,^(AV) next miracles,^(AW) then gifts of healing,^(AX) helping, leading, various kinds of tongues.^{[n] 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?^{(AY) 31} But desire^(AZ) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.