UNROLL
A broken round flat loaf and a plain clay cup on a bare wooden table at dusk.

The Book of

1 Corinthians 11

When the church in Corinth meets, the rich eat first and the poor go hungry. Paul takes them back to the night Jesus broke the bread.

34 verses≈ 5 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–4DivisionsChrist crucified, not rival leaders
  2. 5–6A holy peopleDiscipline, lawsuits and the body
  3. 7–10Your questionsMarriage, food and freedom
  4. 11–14Worship togetherThe Supper, gifts and loveChapter 11
  5. 15–16Raised with ChristResurrection hope; the collection

Roles in Worship

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

1 Corinthians 11:11–12

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

Reflect

Who is watching you?

Paul could say, “You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” Think of one person whose life first showed you what following Jesus looks like. What did you learn from watching them? Now think of someone who may be watching you: a child, a friend, a newer believer. Write down one way you want your life to point them to Christ this week.

Sharing in the Lord’s Supper

In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.

Paul
Two hands break a round flat loaf above a wooden table by lamplight, a plain clay cup beside it.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

0:26

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Question

Quick question

Paul had not been in the upper room. But he passed on what he “received from the Lord,” and his account matches the Gospels.

What did Jesus say the cup is?

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Examine yourself

the callif notthe purposeAn unworthymannerDespising others atthe tableExamineyourself“Each one must examinehimself”Recognize thebodyChrist’s gift, and HispeopleJudged by theLord“we are beingdisciplined”Not condemned“not be condemned withthe world”

Whiteboard

Paul’s warning has a way through it. The Corinthians were eating the Lord’s Supper while shaming the hungry at the same table. The answer is not to stay away but to look honestly at ourselves, remember whose body was given and who sits beside us, and then come and eat. Even the Lord’s discipline is a Father’s love, so that His children will not be condemned.

So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

1 Corinthians 11:33–34

Pray

Until He comes

Thank the Lord Jesus that on the night He was betrayed He gave His body and blood for you. Ask Him to search your heart before you come to His table, and to forgive what you find there. Pray for the people you share the bread with, especially anyone who feels left out or overlooked. And ask Him to keep you looking ahead, proclaiming His death until He comes.

You’ve experienced

1 Corinthians 11

0 of 16 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26

or swipe left