1 Corinthians 11

11 <1> Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.

Being Under Authority

<2> I praise you because you remember me in all things. You follow closely the teachings I gave you. <3> But I want you to understand this: The head of every man is Christ. And the head of a woman is the man.[89] And the head of Christ is God.

<4> Every man who prophesies[90] or prays with his head covered brings shame to his head. <5> But every woman who prays or prophesies should have her head covered. If her head is not covered, she brings shame to her head. Then she is the same as a woman who has her head shaved. <6> If a woman does not cover her head, it is the same as cutting off all her hair. But it is shameful for a woman to cut off her hair or to shave her head. So she should cover her head.

<7> But a man should not cover his head, because he is made like God and is God's glory.[91] But woman is man's glory. <8> Man did not come from woman. Woman came from man. <9> And man was not made for woman. Woman was made for man. <10> So that is why a woman should have her head covered with something that shows she is under authority.[92] Also, she should do this because of the angels.

<11> But in the Lord the woman needs the man, and the man needs the woman. <12> This is true because woman came from man, but also man is born from woman. Really, everything comes from God.

<13> Decide this for yourselves: Is it right for a woman to pray to God without something on her head? <14> Even nature itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man. <15> But wearing long hair is a woman's honor. Long hair is given to the woman to cover her head. <16> Some people may still want to argue about this. But we and the churches[93] of God don't accept what those people are doing.

The Lord's Supper

<17> In the things I tell you now I don't praise you. Your meetings hurt you more than they help you. <18> First, I hear that when you meet together as a church[94] you are divided. And this is not hard to believe <19> because of your idea that you must have separate groups to show who the real believers are!

<20> When you all come together, it is not really the Lord's Supper[95] you are eating. <21> I say this because when you eat, each one eats without waiting for the others. Some people don't get enough to eat or drink, while others have too much.[96] <22> You can eat and drink in your own homes. It seems that you think God's church is not important. You embarrass those who are poor. What can I say? Should I praise you? No, I cannot praise you for this.

<23> The teaching I gave you is the same that I received from the Lord: On the night when the Lord Jesus was handed over to be killed, he took bread <24> and gave thanks for it. Then he divided the bread and said, "This is my body; it is for you. Eat this to remember me." <25> In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup of wine. He said, "This cup represents the new agreement[97] from God, which begins with my blood sacrifice. When you drink this, do it to remember me." <26> This means that every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are telling others about the Lord's death until he comes again.

<27> So if you eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in a way that does not fit its meaning, you are sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. <28> Before you eat the bread and drink the cup, you should examine your own attitude. <29> If you eat and drink without paying attention to those who are the Lord's body, your eating and drinking will cause you to be judged guilty. <30> That is why many in your group are sick and weak, and many have died. <31> But if we judged ourselves in the right way, then God would not judge us. <32> But when the Lord judges us, he punishes us to show us the right way. He does this so that we will not be condemned with the world.

<33> So, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. <34> If some are too hungry to wait, they should eat at home. Do this so that your meeting together will not bring God's judgment on you. I will tell you what to do about the other things when I come.