1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in Worship
2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,11:3 Or of the wife is her husband and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7A man ought not to cover his head,11:4-7 Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own11:10 Or have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper
17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
1Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.
Proper Worship
2I praise you for being faithful in remembering me. I also praise you for staying true to the teachings of the past. You have stayed true to them, just as I gave them to you. 3But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ. The head of the woman is the man. And the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame on his head. 5But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame on her head. It is the same as having her head shaved. 6What if a woman does not cover her head? She might as well have her hair cut off. But it is shameful for her to cut her hair or shave her head. So she should cover her head.
7A man should not cover his head. He is the likeness and glory of God. But woman is the glory of man. 8Man did not come from woman. Woman came from man. 9Also, man was not created for woman. Woman was created for man. 10That’s why a woman should have authority over her own head. She should have this because of the angels. 11But here is how things are for those who belong to the Lord. Woman is not independent of man. And man is not independent of woman. 12Woman came from man, and man is born from woman. But everything comes from God.
13You be the judge. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God without covering her head? 14Suppose a man has long hair. Doesn’t the very nature of things teach you that it is shameful? 15And suppose a woman has long hair. Doesn’t the very nature of things teach you that it is her glory? Long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to argue about this, we don’t have any other practice. And God’s churches don’t either.
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in the Right Way
17In the following matters, I don’t praise you. Your meetings do more harm than good. 18First, here is what people are telling me. When you come together as a church, you take sides. And in some ways I believe it. 19Do you really think you need to take sides? You probably think God favors one side over the other! 20So when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. 21As you eat, some of you go ahead and eat your own private meals. Because of this, one person stays hungry and another gets drunk. 22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? You are shaming those in the church who have nothing. Do you think so little of God’s church that you do this? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? Certainly not about the Lord’s Supper!
23I passed on to you what I received from the Lord. On the night the Lord Jesus was handed over to his enemies, he took bread. 24When he had given thanks, he broke it. He said, “This is my body. It is given for you. Every time you eat it, do it in memory of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Every time you drink it, do it in memory of me.” 26You eat the bread and drink the cup. When you do this, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
27Eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in the right way. Don’t do it in a way that isn’t worthy of him. If you do, you will be guilty. You’ll be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone should take a careful look at themselves before they eat the bread and drink from the cup. 29Whoever eats and drinks must recognize the body of Christ. If they don’t, judgment will come upon them. 30That is why many of you are weak and sick. That is why a number of you have died. 31We should think more carefully about what we are doing. Then we would not be found guilty for this. 32When the Lord judges us in this way, he corrects us. Then in the end we will not be judged along with the rest of the world.
33My brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, you should all eat together. 34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home. Then when you come together, you will not be judged.
When I come, I will give you more directions.
