Christian Order

11 Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

² I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the ^[a]traditions [the substance of my instructions], just as I have passed them on to you. ³ But I want you to understand that Christ is the head (authority over) of every man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ. ⁴ Every man who prays or ^[b]prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head [and the One who is his head]. ⁵ And every woman who prays or prophesies when she has her ^[c]head uncovered disgraces her head; for she is one and the same as the ^[d]woman whose head is shaved [in disgrace]. ⁶ If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and ^[e]if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head. ⁷ A man ought not have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and [reflected] glory of God; but the woman is [the expression of] man’s glory.^{(A) 8} For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;^{(B) 9} for indeed man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.^{(C) 10} Therefore the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, ^[f]for the sake of the angels [so as not to offend them]. ¹¹ Nevertheless, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as the woman originates from the man, so also man is born through the woman; and all things [whether male or female] originate from God [as their Creator]. ^13 [g]Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to offer prayer to God [publicly] with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not common sense itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her long hair is given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ Now if anyone is inclined to be contentious [about this], we have no other practice [in worship than this], nor do the churches of God [in general].

¹⁷ But in giving this next instruction, I do not praise you, because when you meet together it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you meet together in church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and in part I believe it, ¹⁹ for [doubtless] there have to be factions among you, so that those who are of approved character may be clearly recognized among you. ²⁰ So when you meet together, it is not to eat the ^[h]Lord’s Supper, ²¹ for when you eat, each one hurries to get his own supper first [not waiting for others or the poor]. So one goes hungry while another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those [impoverished believers] who have nothing? What will I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? In this I will not praise you!

The Lord’s Supper

^23 [i]For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

²⁷ So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not ^[j]recognize the body [of Christ]. ³⁰ That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death]. ³¹ But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. ³² But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world.

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another [and see to it that no one is left out]. ³⁴ If anyone is too hungry [to wait], let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment [on yourselves]. About the remaining matters [of which I was informed], I will take care of them when I come.