1 Corinthians
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1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 11
1Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Commentary · verse 1
2Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
Commentary · verse 2
Paul also praised these believers for holding to the traditions that Paul taught, which would have been from God's Word and not from man like the Pharisees taught.
3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Commentary · verse 3
God is the head of Christ. Christ is the head of man. Man is the head of woman.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Commentary · verse 4
The Jewish custom was the opposite of this verse. Paul was stating that Christianity promoted people having an open face to God.
5But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Commentary · verse 5
Do not miss the big point in this verse: women could pray and prophesy. During that time, prostitutes did not veil their face and women's hair was shorn as punishment for whoredom and adultery.
6For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.
6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
Commentary · verse 6
Paul made two if/then statements. Today, is it a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven?
7For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: 9for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: 10for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Commentary · verses 7-10
Remember, the only thing Paul said we ought to judge was a believer putting a stumblingblock in the path of another believer. These customs were Paul's way of making sure the church in Corinth did not put a stumblingblock in the path of believers.
11Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.
11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
Commentary · verse 11
Regardless of who is the "head," man and woman are nothing without the Lord.
12For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.
13Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Commentary · verses 12-15
Paul was showing them how man and woman naturally have the customs of the Corinthians fulfilled by their hair.
16But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Commentary · verse 16
Notice, Paul concluded this section by telling people to judge for themselves. Paul stated that if any man would argue these points we ought to let it go because God's Church holds to no such custom/tradition. This chapter seemed to be another example of "Paul's permission."
17But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.
17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Commentary · verses 17-18
Paul transitioned from his permission to the issue he introduced in the beginning of this letter: he had heard of divisions in the church. Paul's measure was profitability: coming together for the better. However, instead of profitability as an effect of love, Paul heard about divisions.
19For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.
19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Commentary · verse 19
Paul thought factions would make the excellent individuals apparent to all. Remember, in Chapter 5 Paul thought disputes between the believers would be settled by "wise men."
20When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper: 21for in your eating each one taketh before other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not.
20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
Commentary · verses 20-22
There were disorders in the taking of the Lord's Supper. They were focused on the WHAT of the Lord's Supper: eating and drinking.
23For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Commentary · verse 23
Paul taught about the Lord's Supper. In the same night Jesus was betrayed, He took bread.
24and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.
24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Commentary · verse 24
In the Passover meal (Seder), the bread (Afikomen) represented Christ's body.
25In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Commentary · verse 25
In the Seder, the cup of wine after the meal (third cup) represented the new covenant by Christ's blood, which represented Redemption.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come.
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Commentary · verses 26-27
Participating in the Lord's Supper showed Christ's death and whoever drank and ate unworthily was guilty of the body and blood of Christ. Notice, Paul's answer to eating food sacrificed to idols focused on the HOW and WHY instead of the WHAT. Likewise, Paul's explanation for eating the Lord's Supper focused on the HOW and WHY instead of the what.
28But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Commentary · verse 28
We ought to take the time while partaking in this memorial, to prove (to test, think, to see whether a thing is genuine or not) ourselves in the HOW and WHY. This is a time to be contrastive on yourself.
29For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.
30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Commentary · verses 29-30
Paul stated every believer ought to take communion to find out if they were worthy or not. If you are not right with God and you partake, God will show you (even through sickness and death) and then you have an opportunity to repent of whatever you have done wrong.
31But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Commentary · verses 31-32
Paul stated the HOW: that we ought to judge ourselves and give God the opportunity to judge us...and then the WHY: both of these were done for our benefit. Paul concluded this section with a specific HOW and WHY...
33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another.
34If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.
33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
Commentary · verses 33-34
Theme of Chapter 11: Paul began to address the causes of divisions among the people. Throughout this chapter, he alluded to previously explained Doctrine.
Be followers of Paul in the things as Paul was a follower of Christ.