1 Corinthians 11:1-24

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you because you remember me in everything. You follow closely the teachings that I gave you. But I want you to understand this: The head of every man is Christ. And the head of a woman is the man. And the head of Christ is God. Every man who prophesies or prays with his head covered brings shame to his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies should have her head covered. If her head is not covered, she brings shame to her head. She is the same as a woman who has her head shaved. 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. But a man should not cover his head, because he is made like God and is God’s glory. But woman is man’s glory. Man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. And man was not made for woman. Woman was made for man. So that is why a woman should have her head covered with something to show that she is under authority. And also she should do this because of the angels. But in the Lord the woman is important to the man, and the man is important to the woman. This is true because woman came from man, but also man is born from woman. Really, everything comes from God. Decide this for yourselves: Is it right for a woman to pray to God without something on her head? Even nature itself teaches you that wearing long hair is shameful for a man. But wearing long hair is a woman’s honor. Long hair is given to the woman to cover her head. Some people may still want to argue about this. But I would add that neither we nor the churches of God accept any other practice. In the things I tell you now I do not praise you. Your meetings hurt you more than they help you. First, I hear that when you meet together as a church you are divided. And I believe some of this. (It is necessary for there to be differences among you. That is the way to make it clear which of you are really doing right.) When you all come together, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. This is because when you eat, each person eats without waiting for the others. Some people do not get enough to eat, while others have too much to drink. 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 should I tell you? Should I praise you for doing this? I do not praise you. The teaching that I gave you is the same teaching that I received from the Lord: On the night when Jesus was handed over to be killed, he took bread and gave thanks for it. Then he broke the bread and said, “This is my body; it is for you. Do this to remember me.”