1 Corinthians, Chapter 11
© Copyright 2002 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

We need to follow the examples of those that follow Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:2-3
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3 But 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.

Paul praised (Gr. epainoo-epainw), or applauded the Corinthians for remembering him in all they did.

The Corinthians retained the teachings that Paul gave to them.

Those wild Corinthians did all that? Yes, they did!

Christianity has few biblical traditions.

Most Christian traditions are man-made.

Paul told that the he wanted them to understand that the man is the head of the woman as the Father is the head of Christ.

What does that mean?

It does not mean that men are big and women are small.

It does not mean that men make all the decisions, and women can "like it or lump it."

It speaks of men’s spiritual responsibility.

Years ago, I was talking with a College professor. I told her that my wife had just received her masters and I was trying to talk her into getting a doctorate.

Her reply was to ask me if I would be intimidated by her gaining a doctorate.

My reply was to tell her that there was no competition between my wife and me.

We do some things together and some separately.

We are both responsible for that which is done together.

We are individually responsible for that which is done as individuals.

We have both done musical concerts.

In preparing for concerts, I may suggest things she can do and she may suggest things I can do.

My wife may take my advice or not, and I may take her advice or not.

We practice duets together but very seldom practice our solos (soli) together.  

1 Corinthians 11:4-16
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For 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.
7 For 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.
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Speaking of tradition. You might not find this section very traditional.

It seems that Paul was not keen on men praying with their head covered. Perhaps it was a throwback to his Jewish days with a prayer shawl.

 

Paul says women should cover their heads---when praying or prophesying.

The presents a problem!  

Some Neanderthals try to keep women from speaking by quoting 1 Timothy chapter two. Yet here it says that women could prophesy.

How can you prophesy without speaking?

It is my opinion that much of the put down for women was born out of the synagogue tradition where discussions between husbands and wives took place on loud scale.

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. (NKJV)

Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. (NKJV)

Those that seek to keep women from preaching or prophesying in Church are missing a valuable resource that God is desires to use.

Woman was created as a helpmate for man. That is why the knowledge of sin did not come until Adam ate the fruit.

Original sin does not point to woman’s spiritual or intellectual inferiority, but man’s responsibility.

To explain my position on women in the Church, we need to look at verse 11. "Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."

Christians are interdependent, and in Christ.

Paul says, "Judge in yourselves."

If Paul had a commandment in this matter, he would have said so.


The length of hair is a major concern among many Christians.

We will not be denied the benefits of salvation because of the length of, or lack of hair.

1 Corinthians 11:17-29
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

22 What? 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.
23 For 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:
24 And 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.
25 After 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.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

It may appear that Corinth had some really bad problems.

Their problems help us to have a better understanding of Christ.

Paul’s letter deals with issues that confront churches today.

In verse 19, Paul speaks of "heresies"; the Greek text speaks of a diversity of opinions, or people going their own way.

It is imperative that Spirit-filled Pastors and Deacons oversee the Church.

It may seem odd, but divisions/splits take place to indicate which group has God’s approval.

It may be the ones who leave that have His blessing to move to a church that holds the truth in higher esteem.

In verse 20, Paul brings up the subject of communion, the Lord’s supper. The supper was originally a supper, Passover Seder. The Seder was done in planned moderation.

It seems that some of the Corinthians the Lord’s Supper into a super feast. They ate without understanding.

1 Corinthians 11:23-27
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.

The Lord’s supper is a most solemn time and should be observed with all reverence.

Communion with a warning that should be issued each time we partake.

Communion is a self-judgment. 

1 Corinthians 11:30-34
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34 And 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.

Because of taking Communion in an unworthy manner, many among the Corinthians were ill and some died.

Could it be that it is the same with us today?

Do you judge yourself? Are you worthy?

In Christ you are worthy!

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