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1 Corinthians 11 · Berean Standard Bible

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¹You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. ²Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. ³But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. ⁶If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. ⁷A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the 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. ¹⁰For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹²For just 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? ¹⁴Doesn’t nature itself 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 is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God. ¹⁷In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. ¹⁸First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved. ²⁰Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. ²¹For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk. ²²Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not! 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, as often as you drink it, in remembrance 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 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. ²⁸Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. ³²But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. ³³So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.

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1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11

Order in Worship and the Lord's Supper

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Objective

This chapter addresses two key issues: appropriate conduct in worship and the proper observance of the Lord's Supper. Paul emphasizes maintaining order and reverence in worship to reflect the glory of God, the unity of believers, and the sanctity of Christ's sacrifice.

Detailed Analysis

Event Description

Paul discusses cultural practices regarding head coverings during worship. He emphasizes the importance of honoring God's design for relationships and authority. In the cultural context of Corinth, women covering their heads during worship symbolized humility and respect, while men uncovered their heads to reflect honor to God. Paul reminds the church that worship should reflect God's order and bring Him glory.

Central Themes

God's Order in Worship: Paul upholds distinctions in roles while emphasizing equality in Christ.

Cultural Sensitivity in Worship: Practices should reflect reverence to God and avoid dishonoring others within the context of the culture.

Cultural & Historical Context

Corinthian Culture: In first-century Corinth, head coverings were a sign of modesty and submission, while uncovered heads could be seen as rebellious or disrespectful. Cross-References: Galatians 3:28 affirms equality in Christ, even as distinctions in roles remain.

Key Verse

"Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God." (1 Corinthians 11:11-12)

Vivid Artistic Descriptions

Head Coverings in Worship

A serene worship scene where men and women pray and sing together in reverence, reflecting God's order and harmony. The women's covered heads and the men's uncovered heads symbolize humility and honor before God.

Correcting Abuse of the Lord's Supper

A divided table: one side overflowing with food and drink, with wealthy participants indulging; the other side sparse and somber, with the poor left out. In the center, Christ's broken body and shed blood shine as a reminder of unity.

The Institution of the Lord's Supper

A glowing table with bread and a cup at its center, surrounded by light symbolizing Christ's presence. A banner above reads, "Do this in remembrance of me."

Self-Examination and Worthy Participation

A believer kneeling in prayer before partaking of communion, their reflection in the cup revealing Christ's sacrifice, symbolizing self-examination and reverence.

Song

At the Table of Grace

Verse 1

Come to the table, the Lord has prepared, A feast of His mercy, His love to be shared. We gather as one, His body, His bride, In Christ, our salvation, we all abide.

Verse 2

Search deep in your heart, let the Spirit reveal, Confess and be cleansed, let His mercy heal. Approach with reverence, His sacrifice near, For Christ gave it all, His love draws us here.

Chorus

At the table of grace, we remember His name, His body was broken, His blood bore our shame. In the bread and the cup, His love we embrace, Proclaiming His death till we see His face.

Bridge

One cup, one bread, one body in love, United as one, by the Spirit above. In remembrance we come, in worship we stay, At the table of grace, He shows us the way.

Outro

At the table of grace, let our hearts be made new, In the love of our Savior, so faithful and true.

Practical Application

Personal Life

Reflect on your heart and relationships before participating in communion, confessing sin and seeking reconciliation where needed.

Approach worship with humility and reverence, honoring God's order and purpose.

Community & Society

Foster unity in your church, ensuring that worship and fellowship reflect love, equality, and Christ's sacrifice.

Celebrate the Lord's Supper as a time of shared remembrance and proclamation of the gospel.

Global Perspective

Support churches around the world in preserving the sacredness of communion as a testimony of Christ's sacrifice.

Emphasize the unity of believers globally as one body in Christ, celebrating His work in all cultures and nations.

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 11 challenges believers to approach worship and the Lord's Supper with reverence, humility, and love. Paul calls for unity, self-examination, and a focus on Christ's sacrifice, reminding us that the Lord's Supper is both a proclamation of the gospel and a reflection of our unity as His body. In all things, we are to worship and live for His glory, honoring Him in our conduct and our hearts.