Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

11 Follow me as I follow Christ.

Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you. ³ But I would have you know that the head of the woman is the man, the head of every man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered dishonors his head, ⁵ but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is the same as if she were shaved. ⁶ For if the woman is not covered, let her also cut off her hair. But if it is a shame for a woman to have her hair cut off or shaved, let her be covered.

⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸ The man is not from the woman, but the woman from the man. ⁹ The man was not created for the woman, but the woman for the man. ¹⁰ For this reason the woman ought to have a veil of authority over her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord. ¹² For just as the woman came from the man, so the man comes through the woman, but all things come from God.

¹³ Judge for yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God uncovered? ¹⁴ Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair it is a shame to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor have the churches of God.

Abuses at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in what I have to say to you, I do not praise you. You have come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸ First of all, when you come together as the church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there must also be factions among you so that those who are genuine may become evident among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together into one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For in eating, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. One goes hungry, and another becomes drunk. ²² What? Do you not have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.

The Lord’s Supper^(A)

²³ I have received of the Lord that which I delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus, on the night in which He was betrayed, took bread. ²⁴ When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take and eat. This is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”^{[a] 25} In the same manner He took the cup after He had supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”^{[b] 26} As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and unhealthy among you, and many die. ³¹ If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we would not be condemned with the world.

³³ So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone hungers, let him eat at home, so that you may not come together into condemnation.

I will set the rest in order when I come.

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. ² You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed!” And no one can say, “Jesus is the Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ There are various gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are various operations, but it is the same God who operates all of them in all people.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for the common good. ⁸ To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But that one and very same Spirit works all these, dividing to each one individually as He will.

One Body With Many Members

¹² For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the many parts of that one body are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or Gentiles, whether we are slaves or free, and we have all been made to drink of one Spirit. ¹⁴ The body is not one part, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has established the parts, every one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ So there are many parts, yet one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, those parts of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those parts of the body which we think are less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor. And our less respectable parts are treated with much more respect, ²⁴ whereas our more respectable parts have no need of this. But God has composed the body, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that the parts should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. ²⁸ God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly covet the greater gifts.

Love

Yet I show you a more excellent way.