1 Corinthians Chapter 11 — Order and the Lord's Supper
Paul provides guidance on communal worship customs and addresses the improper conduct of the Corinthian church during the observance of the Lord's Supper.
1Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
3But I would have you know that the head*or, origin of every man is Christ, and the head†or, origin of the woman is man, and the head‡or, origin of Christ is God.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
5But every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.
6For if a woman is not covered, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be covered.
7For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.
8For man is not from woman, but woman from man;
9for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man.
10For this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.
11Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.
12For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.
13Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled?
14Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
15But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
17But in giving you this command I don’t praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
19For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
20When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
21For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.
23For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
24When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
25In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
31For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Corinthians 11:1
“Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.”
This verse serves as a foundational call for believers to follow the example of leadership that is modeled after Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24
“For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it...”
This passage provides a primary historical and liturgical account of the institution of the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:28
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
This highlights the personal responsibility and spiritual preparation required before participating in communion.
Chapter Summary
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul addresses specific traditions and practices within the assembly. He begins by discussing the hierarchy of authority and the customs regarding head coverings for men and women during prayer and prophecy, emphasizing that while there are distinctions, men and women are interdependent in the Lord. The second half of the chapter focuses on the Lord’s Supper. Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their divisions and selfish behavior during the meal, where some went hungry while others overindulged. He recounts the night Jesus was betrayed, explaining the significance of the bread and the cup as the new covenant. Paul warns that participating in an unworthy manner brings judgment and urges self-examination, reminding the believers to wait for one another and honor the sanctity of the gathering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Paul discusses cultural customs of the time where men prayed with heads uncovered and women with heads covered to show respect for authority. He notes that while these traditions matter, men and women remain interdependent in the Lord.
The Corinthians were showing favoritism and division, with some eating their own meals first and others going hungry. Paul corrected them by stating that such selfish behavior despised God's assembly and failed to honor the purpose of the meal.
It refers to recognizing the significance of Christ's sacrifice and the unity of the believers as one body. Failure to do so while taking the bread and cup can lead to judgment according to the text.
Study Note
The reference to 'because of the angels' in verse 10 is a rare phrase that highlights the cosmic or spiritual significance Paul attributed to the order of human worship.
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