1 Corinthians 11 – Headship and the Lord's Supper

Chapter with Audio

11 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

² Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, ⁵ but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. ⁶ For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. ⁷ For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. ¹⁰ That is why a wife 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 nor man of woman; ¹² for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. ¹³ Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

The Lord's Supper

¹⁷ But 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, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ²⁰ When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. ²¹ For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, ²⁴ 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.” ²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, 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 guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves truly, 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, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— ³⁴ if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Chapter Analysis

1 Corinthians 11: God’s Order, The Lord’s Supper, And Self-Examination

Follow Christlike Examples

📖 1 Corinthians 11:1

¹ Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him, just as he imitates Christ.

🔹 The Truth

Faithful servants of Christ should point others to Christ, not to themselves.

Paul’s example was valuable only because he followed Christ.

Believers need examples of godly living that reflect the Lord Jesus.

🔹 The Promise

God uses faithful examples to help His people walk in the ways of Christ.

✅ Conclusion

Paul begins this section by reminding believers that the goal is Christlikeness. A servant of Christ is worth following only as he follows the Lord.

God’s Order In Headship

📖 1 Corinthians 11:2–3

² Paul praises the Corinthians because they remembered him and held firmly to the teachings he had delivered to them. ³ But he wants them to understand that Christ is the head of every man, the man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.

🔹 The Truth

Paul valued believers holding to the teaching they had received.

God has established order in creation and relationships.

Christ is the head of every man.

The man is the head of woman.

God is the head of Christ, showing order without inferiority.

🔹 The Promise

God’s order is meant to reflect His wisdom, not human pride or confusion.

✅ Conclusion

Paul roots his instruction in God’s order. Headship does not mean greater worth, because Christ Himself is under the headship of God while remaining fully glorious and worthy.

Honor In Worship

📖 1 Corinthians 11:4–16

⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵ Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, because it is as though her head were shaved. ⁶ If a woman is not covered, she should also be shorn; but if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, she should be covered. ⁷ A man should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ Man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Man was not created for woman, but woman for man. ¹⁰ For this reason, a woman ought to have authority on her head because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² As woman came from man, so also man is born through woman, and all things are from God. ¹³ Paul asks them to judge among themselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God uncovered. ¹⁴ Even nature teaches that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, because her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to be contentious, Paul says that the churches of God have no other practice.

🔹 The Truth

God cares about honor, order, and distinction in worship.

Men and women are not independent of one another in the Lord.

God’s order does not erase mutual dependence.

Woman came from man in creation, and man is born through woman.

All things are from God.

Paul appeals to creation, nature, and the practice of the churches.

🔹 The Promise

In the Lord, men and women both have dignity, purpose, and dependence under God’s order.

✅ Conclusion

Paul teaches that worship should reflect reverence toward God, proper order, and humility. Men and women are distinct, yet mutually dependent in the Lord, and all things come from God.

Divisions At The Lord’s Supper

📖 1 Corinthians 11:17–22

¹⁷ In giving these instructions, Paul does not praise them, because their gatherings were doing more harm than good. ¹⁸ When they came together as a church, Paul heard that divisions existed among them, and he partly believed it. ¹⁹ Divisions would reveal which ones were approved among them. ²⁰ When they came together, it was not truly to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ Each one took his own supper ahead of others; one was hungry while another was drunk. ²² Did they not have homes to eat and drink in? Or did they despise the church of God and shame those who had nothing? Paul asks what he should say to them. He would not praise them in this.

🔹 The Truth

Church gatherings can become harmful when believers act selfishly.

Divisions among believers dishonor the Lord.

The Lord’s Supper must not be treated as a selfish meal.

The Corinthians were humiliating poorer believers.

Despising the church of God is a serious sin.

🔹 The Promise

God exposes disorder in the church so His people may return to love, reverence, and truth.

✅ Conclusion

The Corinthians had turned the Lord’s Supper into a display of selfishness and division. Paul rebukes them because their conduct contradicted the meaning of the meal.

This Is My Body, This Cup Is The New Covenant

📖 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

²³ Paul received from the Lord what he also delivered to them: that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread. ²⁴ When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper, He also 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.” ²⁶ As often as believers eat this bread and drink this cup, they proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

🔹 The Truth

The Lord’s Supper was given by the Lord Jesus.

The bread points to His body given for His people.

The cup points to the New Covenant in His blood.

The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of Christ.

The Lord’s Supper proclaims His death until He comes.

🔹 The Promise

The New Covenant was established in the blood of Jesus Christ.

✅ Conclusion

The Lord’s Supper is centered on Jesus Christ, His death, His blood, the New Covenant, and His return. It is not a casual ritual, but a holy remembrance and proclamation of the Lord’s death.

Examine Yourself Before The Lord

📖 1 Corinthians 11:27–34

²⁷ Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Therefore, each person should examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ The one who eats and drinks without discerning the Lord’s body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰ For this reason, many among them were weak and sick, and many had died. ³¹ If believers would judge themselves rightly, they would not be judged. ³² But when they are judged, they are disciplined by the Lord so they will not be condemned with the world. ³³ Therefore, when they come together to eat, they should wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that their gathering does not bring judgment. Paul would set the rest in order when he came.

🔹 The Truth

The Lord’s Supper must not be taken in an unworthy manner.

Believers are commanded to examine themselves.

Failure to discern the Lord’s body brings serious consequences.

The Lord disciplines His people for their good.

Self-examination helps believers avoid careless judgment.

The church must practice love and consideration when gathered.

🔹 The Promise

The Lord disciplines His people so they will not be condemned with the world.

✅ Conclusion

Paul calls believers to examine themselves before participating in the Lord’s Supper. The purpose is not fear without hope, but reverence, repentance, love for the body, and remembrance of Christ.

Overall Conclusion

1 Corinthians 11 addresses order, honor, and reverence among God’s people.

Paul begins by calling believers to follow Christlike examples. He then teaches God’s order in headship and the need for honor in worship.

The chapter then turns to the Lord’s Supper. The Corinthians had turned it into a selfish and divided gathering, but Paul brings them back to the meaning of the bread and the cup: the body of Christ, the blood of Christ, the New Covenant, the proclamation of His death, and the hope of His return.

This chapter reminds believers that worship must be marked by reverence, humility, love, self-examination, and remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Final Questions For You

1. Why is it important for worship to reflect God’s order and reverence?
2. What does it mean that the cup is the New Covenant in Christ’s blood?
3. How should believers examine themselves before taking the Lord’s Supper?