The Epistles · Chapter 11 of 16

1 Corinthians 11

Paul addresses worship practices in Corinth: head coverings in prayer and prophecy, and grave abuses at the Lord's Supper. He recalls how Christ instituted the Supper the night he was betrayed, giving his body and blood. The Corinthians' selfish, divided meals despise the church and profane the table. Paul calls each to examine himself and discern the Lord's body.

What happens in 1 Corinthians 11

Paul first addresses conduct in worship, teaching about head coverings for men and women who pray or prophesy, appealing to creation order and nature, while affirming that in the Lord man and woman are interdependent and all things come from God. He then turns to a graver problem: their gatherings do more harm than good because of divisions. When they meet it is not truly the Lord's Supper, for each eats his own meal ahead of others, some going hungry while others get drunk, shaming the poor.

Paul recounts what he received from the Lord: on the night he was betrayed Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it as his body given for them, then took the cup as the new covenant in his blood, to be done in remembrance until he comes. Eating unworthily makes one guilty of the Lord's body and blood, so each must examine himself and discern the body, waiting for one another.

1 Corinthians 11 in context

The Corinthian church met in homes and shared a common meal alongside the Lord's Supper. Social divisions between rich and poor turned that sacred meal into an occasion of shame, the wealthy feasting while poorer believers went without.

Paul also addresses disputes over head coverings in public worship. Behind both issues lies his concern that the gathered church honor Christ and one another rather than reflect the surrounding culture's inequalities.

Main themes of 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11 (KJV)

1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3But 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. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For 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. 7For 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. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? 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. 23For 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: 24And 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. 25After 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. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And 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.

Verses to carry from 1 Corinthians 11

“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.”1 Corinthians 11:24

“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”1 Corinthians 11:26

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”1 Corinthians 11:28

Reflection

When I come to the Lord's table, do I discern both his broken body and the family gathered around it? The Supper proclaims his death until he comes. This week I can examine my heart honestly and consider whether my life honors or shames the fellow believers Christ died to gather.

A prayer from 1 Corinthians 11