11:1Why did Paul say, “imitate me”? Paul wasn’t being arrogant—he did not think of himself as sinless. At this time, however, the Corinthian believers did not know much about the life and ministry of Christ. Pau! could not te!l them to imitate Jesus because the Gospels had not yet been written, so they did not know what Jesus was like. The best way to point these new Christians to Christ was to point them to a Christian whom they trusted (see also Galatians 4:12; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9). Paut had been in Corinth almost two years and had buiit a relationship of trust with many of these new believers.
Life Application Study Bible1 CorinthiansChapter 11
1 Corinthians 11
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1945, 1946, 1947
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
111 Corinthians 11
1every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.* 4A man dishonors his head* if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5But a woman dishonors her head* if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.* 7A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God's image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. ®For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. 10For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.* 11But among the LORD’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 5And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 'But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.
Order at the LORD’s Supper
1717But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. '®First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 18But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized! 20When you meet together, you are not really interested in the LORD's Supper. 21For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. Asa result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God's church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this! 23For I pass on to you what I received from the LORD himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the LORD Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.* Do this to remember me.”5In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the LORD’s death until he comes again. 27So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the LORD unworthily is guilty of sinning against* the body and blood of the LORD. 28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,* you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died. 31But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32Yet when we are judged by the LORD, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 33So, my dear brothers and sisters,* when you gather for the LORD’s Supper, wait for each other. 34If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I'll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
Textual footnotes
- Or to know: Every man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible
- to God.
- is broken for you.
- 11:3 Or to know: The source of every man is Christ, the source of woman is man, and the source of Christ is Goa.
- 11:4 Or dishonors Christ.
- 11:5 Or dishonors her husband.
- 11:6 Or should have long hair.
- 11:10 Greek should have an authority on her head.
- 11:24 Greek which is for you; other manuscripts read which
- 11:27 Or is responsible for.
- 11:29 Greek the body; other manuscripts read the LORD’s body.
- 11:33 Greek brothers,
Life Application Notes 7 notes
11:2ffIn this section Paul’s main concern is irreverence in worship. We need to read it in the context of the situation in Corinth.
11:10This verse may mean that the woman should wear a covering on her head as a sign that she is under the man's authority. This is a fact even the angels understand as they observe Christians in worship. See the note on 11:2ff for an explanation of head coverings.
11:14,15In talking about head coverings and jength of hair, Paul is saying that believers should look and behave in ways that are honorable in their own culture. In many cultures long hair on men is considered appropriate and masculine. in Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labeled prostitutes. Paul was saying that in the Corinthian culture, Christian women should keep their hair long. If short hair on women was a sign of prostitution, then a Christian woman with short hair would find it difficult to be a believable witness for Jesus Christ. Paul wasn't saying we should adopt all the practices of our culture but that we should avoid appearances and behavior that detract from our ultimate goal of being witnesses for Jesus Christ.
11:17-34The LORD's Supper (11:20) is a visible representation symbolizing the death of Christ for our sins. It reminds us of Christ's death and the glorious hope of his return. Our participation in it strengthens our faith through feliowship with Christ and with ather believers.
11:18,19Paul acknowledges that there are differences among church members. When they develop into self-willed divisions, however, they are destructive to the congregation. Those who false division only serve to highlight those who are genuine elievers, 11:21, 22, When the LORD’s Supper was celebrated in the early church, it included a feast or fellowship meal followed by the celebration of Communion. In the church in Corinth, the fellowship meal had become a time when some ate and drank excessively while others went hungry. There was little sharing and caring.
11:34People should come to this meal desiring to fellowship with other believers and prepare for the LORD’s Supper to foliow, not to fill up on a big dinner. “If you are really hungry, eat at home” means that they should eat dinner beforehand so as to come to the fellowship meal in the right frame of mind.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1945
MAKING CHOICES ON SENSITIVE ISSUES
All of us make hundreds of choices every day. Most choices have no right or wrong attached to them—like what you wear or what you eat. But we always face decisions that carry a little more weight. We don’t want to do wrong, and we don’t want to cause others to do wrong, so how can we make such decisions?
If I choose one course of action: .. does it help my witness for Christ? (9:19-22) . am I motivated by a desire to help others know Christ? (9:23; 10:33) .. does it help me do my best? (9:25) ..is it against a specific command in Scripture and would thus cause me to sin? (10:12) . is it the best and most beneficial course of action? (10:23, 33) ..am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person? (10:24) . am I acting lovingly or selfishly? (10:28-31) . does it glorify God? (10:31) .. will it cause someone else to sin? (10:32)
The phrase, “the head of Christ is God,” does not mean that Christ was inferior to God in any way. Paul was referring to the incarnation of Christ. Through Christ’s coming to earth, believers receive forgiveness and are united with God and with one another. From this theological base, then, Paul began to address the issue of head coverings. 11:3. The principle behind Paul’s words is submission, which is a key element in the smooth functioning of any business, government, or family. God ordained submission in certain relationships to prevent chaos. It is essential to understand that submission is not surrender, withdrawal, or apathy. It does not mean inferiority, because God created all people in his image and all have equal value. Submission is mutual commitment and cooperation. Thus, God calls for submission among equals. He did not make the man superior; he made a way for a husband and wife to work together, Jesus Christ, although equal with God the Father, submitted to him to carry out the plan for salvation. Likewise, although equal to man under God, the wife should submit to her husband for the sake of their marriage and family. Submission between equals is submission by choice, not by force. We serve God in these relationships by willingly submitting to others in our church, to our spouses, and to our government leaders. 11:9-11 God created lines of authority in order for his created world to function smoothly. Although there must be lines of authority even in marriage, there should not be lines of superiority. God created men and women with unique and complementary characteristics. One sex is not better than the other. We must not let the issue of authority and submission become a wedge to destroy oneness in marriage. Instead, we should use our unique gifts to strengthen our marriages and to glorify God.
The matter of wearing hats or head coverings, although seemingly insignificant, had become a big problem because two cultural backgrounds were colliding. Jewish women always covered their heads in worship. For a woman to uncover her head in public was a sign of loose morals. On the other hand, Greek women may have been used to worshiping without head coverings. In this letter Paul had already spoken about divisions and disorder in the church. Both are involved in this issue. Pau!'s solution came from his desire for unity among church members and for appropriateness in the worship service. He accepted God’s sovereignty in creating the rules for relationships. 11:2-16 This section focuses primarily on proper attitudes and conduct in worship, not on the marriage relationship or on the Tole of women in the church. While Paul’s specific instructions may be cultural (women covering their heads in worship), the principles behind them are timeless: respect for spouse, reverence and appropriateness in worship, and focus of all of life on God. If you are doing something that might easily offend members and divide the church, then change your ways to promote church unity. Paul told the women who were not wearing head coverings to wear them, not because it was a scriptural command, but because it kept the congregation from dividing over a petty issue that served only to take people's minds off Christ. 11:3 The phrase, “the head of every man is Christ,” coutd mean that: (1) because Christ was present at Creation, he is the Creator of every man; and (2) Christ is every believer's source of life in the new creation. The phrase “the head of woman is man” does not indicate the man’s contro! or supremacy but rather his being her source. Because man was created first, the woman derives her existence from man, as man does from Christ and Christ from God. Evidently Paul was correcting some excesses in worship in which the emancipated Corinthian women were engaging.
Study feature · page 1946
This certainly did not demonstrate the unity and love that should characterize the church, nor was it a preparation for Communion. Paul condemned these actions and reminded the church of the real purpose of the LORD’s Supper. 11:24, 25 What does the LORD’s Supper mean? The early church remembered that Jesus instituted the LORD’s Supper on the night of the Passover meal (Luke 22:13-20). Just as Passover celebrated deliverance from slavery in Egypt, so the LORD’s Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ’s death. Christians pose several different possibilities for what Christ meant when he said, “This is my body.” (1) Some believe that the bread and wine actually become Christ’s physical blood and body. (2) Others believe that the bread and wine remain unchanged, but Christ is spiritually present with the bread and wine. (3) Still others believe that the bread and wine symbolize Christ’s body and blood, Christians generally agree, however, that participating in the LORD’s Supper is an important element in the Christian faith and that Christ's presence, however we understand it, strengthens us spiritually. 11:25 What is this new covenant? In the old covenant, people could approach God only through the priests and the sacrificial system. Jesus’ death on the cross ushered in the new covenant or agreement between God and us. Now all people can personally approach God and communicate with him. The people of Israel first entered into this agreement after their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 24), and it was designed to point to the day when Jesus Christ would come. The new covenant completes. rather than replaces, the old covenant, fulfilling everything the old covenant looked forward to (see Jeremiah 31:31-34). Eating the bread and drinking the cup shows that we are remembering Christ’s death for us and renewing our commitment to serve him, 11:25 Jesus said, “Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” How do we remember Christ in the LORD's Supper? By thinking about what he did and why he did it. Further. the
Study feature · page 1947
remembering has both a backward and forward look. We remember Christ’s death, and we remember that he is coming! If the LORD’s Supper becomes just a ritual or a pious habit, it loses its significance. But when we appreciate what Christ has done and anticipate what he will do when he returns, the LORD’s Supper takes on a profound sense of purpose. Take time to prepare your- Self spiritually for Communion. Gratefully recall Christ's ioving sacrifice for you. Let the reality that your sins are forgiven motiyate you to love and serve him better. 11:27ff Paul gives specific instructions on how the LORD's Supper should be observed. (1) We should take the LORD’s Supper thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that Christ died for our sins (11:26). (2) We should take it worthily, with due reverence and respect (11:27). (3) We should examine yourselves for any unconfessed sin or resentful attitude and be . properly prepared (11:28). (4) We should be considerate of “others, waiting until everyone is there and then eating in an ;Orderly and unified manner (11:33). -11:27-34 When Paul said that no one should take the LORD’s ‘Supper unworthily, he was speaking to the church members who were participating in it without thinking of its meaning. To not thonor the “body of Christ” means not understanding what the "LORD’s Supper means and not distinguishing it from a normal ; Meal. Those who did so were “guilty of sinning against the body dnd blood of the LORD.” Instead of honoring his sacrifice, they j were sharing in the guilt of those who crucified Christ. In reality, i F'no one is worthy to take the LORD’s Supper. We are all sinners “saved by grace. This is why we should prepare ourselves for Communion through healthy introspection, confession of sin, , 4nd resolution of differences with others. These actions remove : the barriers that affect our relationship with Christ and with other believers. Awareness of your sin should not keep you away from “Communion but drive you to participate in it. 11:30 That some of the people had died may have been a special Supernatural judgment on the Corinthian church. This type of disciplinary judgment highlights the seriousness of the Commu- Nion service. The LORD’s Supper is not to be taken lightly; this new Covenant cost Jesus his life. It is not a meaningless ritual, but a Sacrament given by Christ to help strengthen our faith.