1 Corinthians Chapter 11

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Introduction

THE first verse in this chapter properly belongs to the preceding, and is the conclusion of the discussion which the apostle had been carrying on in that and the previous chapters. It has been improperly separated from that chapter, and in reading should be read in connexion with it. The remainder of the chapter is properly divided into two parts:

I. A discussion respecting the impropriety of a woman's praying or prophesying with her head uncovered, (1Cor 11:2ff;) and,

II. A reproof of their irregularities in the observance of the Lord's Supper, 1Cor 11:17ff.

I. In regard to the first, it seems probable that some of the women who, on pretence of being inspired, had prayed or prophesied in the Corinthian church, had cast off their veils after the manner Of the heathen priestesses. This indecent and improper custom, the apostle reproves. He observes, therefore, that the pre-emmence belongs to man over the woman, even as pre-eminence belonged to Christ over the man; that it was a dishonour to Christ when a man prayed or prophesied with his head covered, and in like manner it was regarded everywhere as dishonourable and improper for a woman to lay. aside the appropriate symbol of her sex, and the emblem of subordination, and to be uncovered in the presence of the man, (1Cor 11:3ff;) that if a woman was not veiled, if she laid aside the appropriate emblem of her sex and of her subordinate condition, she might as well part with her hair, which all knew would be dishonourable and improper, (1Cor 11:6;) that the woman had been created for a subordinate station, and should observe it, (1Cor 11:7ff;) that she should have power on her head because of the angels, (1Cor 11:10;) and yet, lest this should depress her, and seem to convey the idea of her utter inferiority and unimportance, he adds, that in the plan of salvation they are in many respects on an equality with the man, that the same plan was adapted to both, that the same blessings are appointed for both sexes, and the same high hopes are held out to both, (1Cor 11:11, 1Cor 11:12;) and that nature on this subject was a good instructor, and showed that it was uncomely for a woman to pray with her head uncovered, that her hair had been given her for an ornament and for beauty, and that, as it would be as improper for her to remove her veil as to cut off her hair, nature itself required that this symbol of her subordination should not be laid aside in public, 1Cor 11:13ff.

II. Next, as to the irregularities in the observance of the Lord's Supper, the apostle observes, (1Cor 11:17,) that he could not commend them for what he was about to say. There had been, and there were, irregularities among them, which it was his duty to reprove. In 1Cor 11:18ff, he states what those irregularities were. He then (1Cor 11:23ff) states the true nature and design of the Lord's Supper, as it was very evident that they had not understood it, but supposed it was a common feast, such as they had been accustomed to observe in honour of idols. In 1Cor 11:27ff, he states the consequences of observing this ordinance in an improper manner, and the proper way of approaching it; and in 1Cor 11:30ff, observes that their improper mode of observing it was the cause of the punishment which many of them had experienced. He then concludes by directing them to celebrate the Lord's Supper together; to eat at home when they were hungry; and not to abuse the Lord's Supper by making it an occasion of feasting; and assures them that the other matters of irregularity he would set in order when he should come among them.

Text

1: Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. edit

2: Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. edit

3: But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. edit

4: Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. edit

5: But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. edit

6: For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. edit

7: For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. edit

8: For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. edit

9: Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. edit

10: For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. edit

11: Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. edit

12: For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. edit

13: Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? edit

14: Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? edit

15: But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. edit

16: But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. edit

17: Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. edit

18: For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. edit

19: For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. edit

20: When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. edit

21: For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. edit

22: What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. edit

23: For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: edit

24: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. edit

25: After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. edit

26: For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. edit

27: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. edit

28: But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. edit

29: For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. edit

30: For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. edit

31: For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. edit

32: But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. edit

33: Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. edit

34: And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. edit