1 Be imitators of me, as I am
of Christ. 2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and
maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you. 3 But I want
you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband
is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Any man who
prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, 5 but
any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her
head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 6 For if a
woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it
is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she
should wear a veil. 7 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since
he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of
man. 8 Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9
Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of
man. 10 For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on
her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is
not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman
came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with
her head unveiled? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man
wears long hair, it is degrading to him, 15 but if a woman has long
hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16
But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor
do the churches of God.
17 Now in the following
instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is
not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, to begin with, when you
come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you;
and to some extent I believe it. 19 Indeed, there have to be factions
among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.
20 When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord’s supper. 21
For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own
supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 What! Do you
not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the
church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to
you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!
23 For I received from the Lord
what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he
was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he
broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in
remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after
supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat
this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he
comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of
the Lord. 28 Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and
drink of the cup. 29 For all who eat and drink without discerning the
body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. 30 For this reason many
of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged
ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the
Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the
world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to
eat, wait for one another. 34 If you are hungry, eat at home, so that
when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the
other things I will give instructions when I come.
CONTINUE |