1 Corinthians 11:1-34
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.
6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man.
9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not even nature 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 a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
There is a way of living that is not dictated by a detailed list of dos and don’ts, and yet is representative of the new life we’ve been given in Christ. This way is best demonstrated through an attitude of the heart that reflects the heart of God in love and service. It is best discovered and modeled through those who are in relationship with Him and obeying the voice of the Spirit in all they do. This is why Paul could confidently and yet humbly preface some of his directives as things that will be imitations of Christ as they are imitations of him.
His thoughts on the covering of women come from an understanding of Genesis and the fallen angels as referenced in verse 10. The length of the hair and the covering of the head were clear indications that a woman was already submitted to an authority and not available to be dominated by another. This awareness of the fallen angels and their influence affected much of their culture and perspectives on behaviors. Paul even let this be a matter of conscience and sense of honor coming from this understanding. It was not for the woman to be less than the man as he states, but for her to be completely set apart in her heart and life to the authority of Christ – not open for any voice of authority. The man’s role was simply to represent Christ, to imitate Him, and be protected himself as he was a protective covering over his wife.
There seems to be a sense of reverence and honor in our times of communion, but for those who have no true understanding of its purpose, there can be, as there was in the early church, an assumption that this is just snack time. They might have actually been consuming more than a small cracker and sip, even vying over portions, as they were replacing meals with it. As this was probably more out of ignorance than ill intent, Paul provided this precious sharing of what he had received from the Lord that gave this tradition powerful meaning and purpose beyond social and appetite gratification. How this honoring of Jesus’ body and blood was received would impact seemingly unrelated conditions of life with either blessing or enabled curse.
So much of the experience of our new life has to do with how it is lived out. Though we’re freed from the long list, there is yet a need for following Christ in every moment in a way that is submissive to His way over personal notions and whims. There is still a way that seems right to a man that only ends in death. Learning the ways of the Spirit will come from His direction lived out in the lives of those who truly know and represent His heart. He’s called us to be those ones.
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