1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 11 is part of “Worship Disorders: Head Coverings and Lord's Supper” (11) in the outline of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 11 summary
In this chapter the apostle blames, and endeavours to rectify, some great indecencies and manifest disorders in the church of Corinth; as, I. The misconduct of their women (some of whom seem to have been inspired) in the public assembly, who laid by their veils, the common token of subjection to their husbands in that part of the world. This behaviour he reprehends, requires them to keep veiled, asserts the superiority of the husband, yet so as to remind the husband that both were made for mutual help and comfort (v. 1-16). II.
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In this chapter the apostle blames, and endeavours to rectify, some great indecencies and manifest disorders in the church of Corinth; as, I. The misconduct of their women (some of whom seem to have been inspired) in the public assembly, who laid by their veils, the common token of subjection to their husbands in that part of the world. This behaviour he reprehends, requires them to keep veiled, asserts the superiority of the husband, yet so as to remind the husband that both were made for mutual help and comfort (v. 1-16). II. He blames them for their discord and neglect and contempt of the poor, at the Lord's supper (Co1 11:17-22). III. To rectify these scandalous disorders, he sets before them the nature and intentions of this holy institution, directs them how they should attend on it, and warns them of the danger of a conduct to indecent as theirs, and of all unworthy receiving (Co1 11:23 to the end).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 Corinthians 11 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Head Coverings
1Be yee followers of mee, euen as I am of Christ. 2Now brethren, I commend you, that ye remember all my things, and keepe the ordinances, as I deliuered them to you. 3But I wil that ye know, that Christ is the head of euery man: and the man is the womans head: and God is Christs head. 4Euery man praying or prophecying hauing any thing on his head, dishonoureth his head. 5But euery woman that prayeth or prophecieth bare headed, dishonoureth her head: for it is euen one very thing, as though she were shauen. 6Therefore if the woman be not couered, let her also be shorne: and if it be shame for a woman to be shorne or shauen, let her be couered. 7For a man ought not to couer his head: for as much 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 the man was not created for the womans sake: but the woman for the mans sake. 10Therefore ought the woman to haue power on her head, because of the Angels. 11Neuertheles, neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman: but all things are of God. 13Iudge in your selues, Is it comely that a woman pray vnto God vncouered? 14Doeth not nature it selfe teach you, that if a man haue long heare, it is a shame vnto him? 15But if a woman haue long heare, it is a prayse vnto her: for her heare is giuen her for a couering. 16But if any man lust to be contentious, we haue no such custome, neither the Churches of God.
Abuses at the Lord's Supper
17Nowe in this that I declare, I prayse you not, that ye come together, not with profite, but with hurt. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the Church, I heare that there are dissentions among you: and I beleeue it to be true in some part. 19For there must be heresies euen among you, that they which are approoued among you, might be knowen. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eate the Lords Supper. 21For euery man when they should eate, taketh his owne supper afore, and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22Haue ye not houses to eate and to drinke in? despise ye the Church of God, and shame them that haue not? what shall I say to you? shall I prayse you in this? I prayse you not.
The Institution of the Lord's Supper
23For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I also haue deliuered vnto you, to wit, That the Lord Iesus in the night when he was betrayed, tooke bread: 24And when hee had giuen thankes, hee brake it, and sayde, Take, eate: this is my body, which is broken for you: this doe ye in remembrance of me. 25After the same maner also he tooke the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the Newe Testament in my blood: this doe as oft as ye drinke it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye shall eate this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shewe the Lords death till hee come. 27Wherefore, whosoeuer shall eate this bread, and drinke the cup of the Lord vnworthily, shall be guiltie of the body and blood of the Lord. 28Let euery man therefore examine himselfe, and so let him eate of this bread, and drinke of this cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, because he discerneth not the Lords body. 30For this cause many are weake, and sicke among you, and many sleepe. 31For if we would iudge our selues, we should not be iudged. 32But when we are iudged, we are chastened of the Lord, because we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eate, tary one for another. 34And if any man be hungry, let him eate at home, that ye come not together vnto condemnation. Other things will I set in order when I come.