1 Corinthians 11
1 [Follow my example], just like I [try to] follow Christ’s example.
Imitate me, as I myself imitate Christ.
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.
I praise you, indeed, because you never forget me, and are keeping my injunctions in mind, exactly as I laid them on 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 I am anxious that you should understand that the Christ is the head of every man, that man is the head of woman, and that God is the head of the Christ.
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].
Any man who keeps his head covered, when praying or preaching in public, dishonors him who is 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.
while any woman, who prays or preaches in public bare-headed, dishonors him who is her head; for that is to make herself like one of the shameless women who shave their heads.
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].
Indeed, if a woman does not keep her head covered, she may as well cut her hair short. But, since to cut her hair short, or shave it off, marks her as one of the shameless women, she should keep her head covered.
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.
A man ought not to have his head covered, for he has been from the beginning the likeness of God and the reflection of his glory, but woman is the reflection of man’s glory.
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 it was not man who was taken from woman, but woman who was taken from man.
9 Also, [God] did not create [the first] man [to help] the woman. Instead, [he] created the woman [to help] the man.
Besides, man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of 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].
And, therefore, a woman ought to wear on her head a symbol of her subjection, because of the presence 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.
Still, when in union with the Lord, woman is not independent of man, or man of woman;
for just as woman came from man, so man comes by means of woman; and all things come 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?
Judge for yourselves. Is it fitting that a woman should pray to God in public with her head uncovered?
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 not nature herself teach us that, while for a man to wear his hair long is degrading 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].
a woman’s long hair is her glory? Her hair has been given her to serve as 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.
If, however, anyone still thinks it right to contest the point – well, we have no such custom, nor have 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].
In giving directions on the next subject, I cannot praise you; because your meetings do more harm than good.
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.
To begin with, I am told that when you meet together as a church there are divisions among you. In part I believe this,
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!
indeed, there must be parties among you, so that the people of real worth become known.
20 When you gather together, you [IRO] eat the meal [that you say is to remember the death of] the Lord [Jesus for us].
When you meet together, as I understand, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s Supper;
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, as you eat, each of you tries to secure his own supper first, with the result that one has too little to eat, and another has too much to 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!
Have you no houses in which you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show your contempt for the church of God, and to humiliate the poor? What can I say to you? Should I praise you? In this matter I cannot praise you.
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 I myself received from the Lord the account which I have in turn given to you – how the Lord Jesus, on the very night of his betrayal, took some 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, after saying the thanksgiving, broke it and said “This is my own body given on your behalf. 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].”
And in the same way with the cup, after supper, saying “This cup is the new covenant made by my blood. Do this, whenever you drink 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 eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death – until 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].
Therefore, whoever eats the bread, or drinks the Lord’s cup, in an irreverent spirit, will have to answer for an offense against the Lord’s body and blood.
28 Before any believer eats that bread and drinks that wine [MTY], he should think carefully about [what he is doing],
Let everyone look into their own heart, and only then eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
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 the person who eats and drinks brings a judgment on themselves by their eating and drinking, when they do not discern the 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].
That is why so many among you are weak and ill, and why some are sleeping.
31 If we would think carefully about what we [are doing], [God] would not judge [and punish] us [like that].
But, if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged.
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].
Yet, in being judged by the Lord, we are undergoing discipline, so that we may not have judgment passed on us with the rest of the world.
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].
Therefore, my friends, when you meet together to eat the Supper, wait 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 anyone is hungry, they should eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring a judgment on you. The other details I will settle when I come.
