Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
11 1 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 dishonours(G) his head. 5 Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours 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 recognised 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 recognising the body,[i] eats and drinks judgement(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 judgement. 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 baptised 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 honourable,(AR) we clothe these with greater honour, 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 honour to the less honourable, 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 honoured, 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.
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