1 Corinthians 11
11
1 # See ch. 4:16 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Head Coverings
2Now I commend you #[ch. 4:17; 1 Thess. 3:6] because you remember me in everything and #2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6 maintain the traditions #[1 Thess. 4:1, 2]even as I delivered them to you. 3But I want you to understand that #Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18 the head of every man is Christ, #See Gen. 3:16 the head of a wife#11:3 Greek gunē. This term may refer to a woman or a wife, depending on the context is her husband,#11:3 Greek anēr. This term may refer to a man or a husband, depending on the context and #[ch. 3:23]the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5but every wife#11:5 In verses 5–13, the Greek word gunē is translated wife in verses that deal with wearing a veil, a sign of being married in first-century culture who prays or #Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; [ch. 14:34] prophesies #[Num. 5:18] with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same #Deut. 21:12as if her head were shaven. 6For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7For a man ought not to cover his head, since #See Gen. 1:26 he is the image and glory of God, but #[Prov. 12:4]woman is the glory of man. 8For #Gen. 2:21-23; [1 Tim. 2:13]man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9Neither was man created for woman, but #Gen. 2:18woman for man. 10That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.#11:10 Or messengers, that is, people sent to observe and report 11Nevertheless, #Gal. 3:28in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And #See Rom. 11:36all things are from God. 13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16#1 Tim. 6:3, 4 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do #2 Thess. 1:4; [1 Thess. 2:14]; See ch. 7:17; 10:32the churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper
17But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, #ch. 1:10-12; [ch. 3:3]I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,#11:18 Or I believe a certain report 19for #[Matt. 18:7; Luke 17:1; Acts 20:30; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Pet. 2:1] there must be factions among you in order #1 John 2:19; [Deut. 13:3]that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, #[2 Pet. 2:13; Jude 12]another gets drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise #See Acts 20:28 the church of God and #[Prov. 17:5; James 2:6]humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23For #ch. 15:3; Gal. 1:12 I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that #For ver. 23-25, see Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19, 20the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for#11:24 Some manuscripts broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”#11:24 Or as my memorial; also verse 25 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death #See John 21:22until he comes.
27 # [Num. 9:10, 13] Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord #[John 13:27] in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning #John 6:51, 53-56the body and blood of the Lord. 28#[2 Cor. 13:5; Gal. 6:4]Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some #See Matt. 27:52have died.#11:30 Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20) 31#See 1 John 1:9But if we judged#11:31 Or discerned ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, #See Prov. 3:11 we are disciplined#11:32 Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we may not be #Rom. 5:16condemned along with the world.
33So then, my brothers,#11:33 Or brothers and sisters when you come together to eat, wait for#11:33 Or share with one another— 34#ver. 21 if anyone is hungry, #ver. 22 let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things #ch. 7:17; Titus 1:5 I will give directions #See ch. 4:19when I come.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: