1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in Worship
2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,a and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7A man ought not to cover his head,b since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her ownc head, because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
Footnotes:
a 3 Or of the wife is her husband
b 7 Or 4Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7A man ought not to have long hair
c 10 Or have a sign of authority on her
FAQs
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul tackles two issues that needed correction in the Corinthian church: head coverings for women and how to observe the Lord's Supper together.
What is the verse 1 Corinthians 11:1? ›
1 Corinthians 11:1 in Other Translations
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you.
What is preaching on 1 Corinthians 11 1? ›
1 Corinthians 11:1 Encourages Us to Lead Lives Worthy of Imitation. The reality is, in disciple-making, what Jesus has called all of us to do, we show other people what it means to be a follower of Jesus, so let's, by the grace of God and only in the power of the Spirit of God, rise to the occasion today.
What is the first Colossians 11? ›
Colossians 1:11-16 New Century Version (NCV)
God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid for our sins, and in him we have forgiveness. No one can see God, but Jesus Christ is exactly like him. He ranks higher than everything that has been made.
How does 1 Corinthians 11 apply today? ›
Today we obey the head covering commands for women in 1 Corinthians 11 by encouraging married women to wear whatever symbolizes being married in their own cultures. … The situation is far different with male headship in marriage and the church.
Should a woman cover her head to pray? ›
As the biblical passage progresses, Paul teaches that: God's order for the woman is the opposite from His order for the man. When she prays or prophesies she must cover her head. If she does not, she disgraces her head (man).
What was the problem addressed in 1 Corinthians 1 11? ›
Paul warned against divisions within the congregations of the Church in Corinth. He emphasized the importance of unity among Church members. He warned members against sexual immorality, taught that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encouraged self-mastery.
What does it mean to cover your head in 1 Corinthians 11? ›
11:4) means that every man who covers his physical head dishonors his spiritual head, that is, Christ (1 Cor. 11:3). And what about the woman? She too dishonors her spiritual head when her physical head is uncovered. The head she dishonors is, by extension, Christ, but most immediately her husband.
What is the prayer for 1 Corinthians 11? ›
Bible Gateway 1 Corinthians 11 :: NIV. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.
What is 1 Corinthians telling us? ›
1 Corinthians 1–11.
Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.
Paul says: 2 Cor 1:11 “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” Paul appeals to the prayers of many, to intercessory prayer for help. Paul takes prayer so very seriously because it appeals to the God who can raise the dead.
What does 1 Corinthians 1 teach us? ›
Paul urges them be unified instead of divided, to find a way to agree with each other and stop defining their faith by the teacher they prefer, including him. Christ is not divided. They were not baptized in Paul's name. He did baptize some of them, but they were baptized in the name of Jesus.
What is the prayer for Colossians 1 11? ›
Colossians 1:11-14
Dear Father, in whom there is no darkness at all, Strengthen me with all power, according to your great might, so that I can both endure and be patient, even having great joy while enduring, always giving thanks to you, my heavenly Father.
What is God's glorious power? ›
The glory of God is the presence of God manifest. The Church is to be filled with the power of His presence and to manifest that glorious power to the world. The world will have the opportunity to see Christ manifest through His Body. The Rapture will be the catching away of the Glorious Church.
What is Ephesians 1:11? ›
Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
What does it mean for a woman to cover her head? ›
A veil is worn during church services as a show of modesty when men are present and to keep in mind that scripture says that God made man to lead woman and the veil shows that we are wuilling to be submissive to our husbands.
What does head mean in 1 Corinthians 11? ›
SWS: In 1 Cor. 11:3, Paul uses the term “head” (Gk. kephale) to describe the relationship of God to Christ, Christ to man, and man to woman. Paul's point is the relationship between man and woman corresponds in some way or ways to the relationship between Christ and men and the relationship between God and Christ.
