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.
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
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
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.
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!