1 Corinthians 11
1 [Follow my example], just like I [try to] follow Christ’s example.
So take me for your example, even as I take Christ for mine.
2 I praise you because you remember all the things [that I taught you] and because you follow the instructions that I gave you. You have done just like I told you to do.
Now I am pleased to see that you keep me in memory in all things, and that you give attention to the teaching which was handed down from me to you.
3 [Now], I want you to know that the one who has authority over [MTY] every man is Christ, and the ones who have authority over women are men (OR, their husbands), and the one who has authority over Christ is God.
But it is important for you to keep this fact in mind, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.
4 [So] if any man [wears a covering over] his head when he prays or speaks a message God gave him, he disgraces himself [SYN].
Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head.
5 Also, if any woman does not wear a covering over her head when she prays or speaks a message that God gave her, she disgraces herself (OR, she dishonors her husband). That would be acting like [SIM] [women who are ashamed because] their heads have been shaved.
But every woman who does so with her head unveiled, puts shame on her head: for it is the same as if her hair was cut off.
6 So, if women do not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], they should let someone shave their heads [so that they will be ashamed]. But since women are ashamed if someone cuts their hair [short] or shaves off their hair, they should wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them].
For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled.
7 Men should not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], because they represent what God is like [MET] and they show how great God is. But women show how great men (OR, their husbands) are.
For it is not right for a man to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 [Remember that God intends that men have authority over women. We know that] because [God] did not make [the first] man, [Adam], from the [first] woman, [Eve]. Instead, he made that woman [from a bone that he took] from the man.
For the man did not come from the woman, but the woman from the man.
9 Also, [God] did not create [the first] man [to help] the woman. Instead, [he] created the woman [to help] the man.
And the man was not made for the woman, but the woman for the man.
10 For that reason, women should wear something [to cover] their heads [as a symbol of their being under their husbands’] [MTY] authority. They should also [cover their heads] so that the angels [will see that and rejoice].
For this reason it is right for the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 However, remember that [even though God created the first] woman from [the first] man, all other men [have been born] from women. So men cannot be independent of women, nor can women be independent of men. But all things, [including men and women], come from God.
But the woman is not separate from the man, and the man is not separate from the woman in the Lord.
For as the woman is from the man, so the man is through the woman; but all things are from God.
13 Consider this for yourselves: Is it proper for [RHQ] women to pray to God while they do not have coverings over their heads?
Be judges yourselves of the question: does it seem right for a woman to take part in prayer unveiled?
14 (Everyone senses that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair./Doesn’t everyone sense that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair?) [RHQ]
Does it not seem natural to you that if a man has long hair, it is a cause of shame to him?
15 But it is very delightful if women have long hair, because [God] gave them long hair to be like a [beautiful] covering [for their heads].
But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 But whoever wants to argue [with me about my saying that women should have a covering over their heads when they pray or speak a message from God should consider the fact that] we [apostles] do not [permit] any other custom, and the [other] congregations of God do not have any other custom.
But if any man will not be ruled in this question, this is not our way of doing things, and it is not done in the churches of God.
17 Now I want to tell you [about some other things]. I do not praise you about them, because whenever you believers meet together, good [things do not happen]. Instead, bad things [happen].
But in giving you this order, there is one thing about which I am not pleased: it is that when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
18 First of all, people have told me that when you gather together as a group [to worship God], you divide into groups [that are hostile to each other]. To some extent I believe that is true.
For first of all, it has come to my ears that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you, and I take the statement to be true in part.
19 It seems that you must divide into [groups that despise each other] in order that it might be clear/evident which people among you [God] approves of!
For divisions are necessary among you, in order that those who have God's approval may be clearly seen among you.
20 When you gather together, you [IRO] eat the meal [that you say is to remember the death of] the Lord [Jesus for us].
But now, when you come together, it is not possible to take the holy meal of the Lord:
21 But [what happens when] you eat is that each person eats his own meal before [he thinks about sharing his food with anyone else]. As a result, [when the meal is over], some people are [still] hungry and others are drunk! [So it is not a meal that honors the Lord].
For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.
22 ([You act as though] you do not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]!/Do you not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]?) [RHQ] Do you not realize [RHQ] [that by acting selfishly in this way], it is God’s people whom you are despising, and it is the poor people [in your group] whom you are treating as though they were not important? What shall I say to you about that [RHQ]? Do [you expect] me to praise you [about what you do] [RHQ]? I certainly will not praise you!
What? have you not houses to take your meals in? or have you no respect for the church of God, putting the poor to shame? What am I to say to you? am I to give you praise? certainly not.
23 The Lord taught me these things that I also taught you: During the night that Jesus was betrayed {[Judas] enabled [the enemies of] the Lord Jesus to seize him}, he took some bread.
For it was handed down to me from the Lord, as I gave it to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when Judas was false to him, took bread,
24 After he thanked God for it, he broke it into pieces. [Then he gave it to his disciples] and said, “This bread [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my body, that [I am about to sacrifice] for you. Eat bread in this [way again and again] to remember my [offering myself as a sacrifice for you].”
And when it had been broken with an act of praise, he said, This is my body which is for you: do this in memory of me.
25 Similarly, after they ate their meal, he took a cup [MTY] [of wine]. He [thanked God for it. Then he gave it to his disciples], saying, “[The wine in] [MTY] this cup [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my blood [that will flow from my body] ([to put into effect/to establish]) the new agreement [that God is making with people]. Whenever you drink wine in this way, do it to remember that [my blood flowed for you].”
In the same way, with the cup, after the meal, he said, This cup is the new testament in my blood: do this, whenever you take it, in memory of me.
26 [Remember that] until the Lord [Jesus] returns [to the earth], whenever you eat the [bread that represents his body] and drink the wine [MTY] [that represents his blood], you are telling other people that he died [for you].
For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes.
27 So, those who eat that bread and drink that wine [MTY] in a way that is not proper [for those who belong to the Lord] are guilty of [acting in a way that is contrary to what] our [Lord intended when he offered] his body [as a sacrifice] and his blood [flowed when he died].
If, then, anyone takes the bread or the cup of the Lord in the wrong spirit, he will be responsible for the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Before any believer eats that bread and drinks that wine [MTY], he should think carefully about [what he is doing],
But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.
29 because if anyone eats [the bread that represents Christ’s body] and drinks [the wine that represents his blood] without recognizing that all God’s [people should be united, God will] punish him [for doing that].
For a man puts himself in danger, if he takes part in the holy meal without being conscious that it is the Lord's body.
30 Many people in your group are weak and sick, and several have died [EUP] because of [the way they acted when they ate that bread and drank that wine].
For this cause a number of you are feeble and ill, and a number are dead.
31 If we would think carefully about what we [are doing], [God] would not judge [and punish] us [like that].
But if we were true judges of ourselves, punishment would not come on us.
32 But when the Lord judges [and punishes] us [for acting wrongly], he disciplines us [to correct us], in order that he will not [need to] punish us when he punishes [the people who do not trust in Christ] [MTY].
But if punishment does come, it is sent by the Lord, so that we may be safe when the world is judged.
33 So, my fellow believers, when you gather together to eat [food to remember the Lord’s dying for you], wait until everyone [has arrived so that you can find out who does not have enough food].
So then, my brothers, when you come together to the holy meal of the Lord, let there be waiting for one another.
34 Those who are so hungry [that they cannot wait to eat until everyone else has arrived] should eat in their own homes [first], in order that when you gather together God will not judge [and punish them for] ([being inconsiderate of/not being concerned about]) [others]. And when I come [to Corinth] I will give you instructions about other matters [concerning the Lord’s Supper].
If any man is in need of food, let him take his meal in his house; so that you may not come together to your damage. And the rest I will put in order when I come.
