1 Corinthians 11 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 53-55
Location
Corinth, a major commercial port city in Roman Achaia (southern Greece)
Audience
The Christian church in Corinth, composed of both Jewish and Gentile converts, predominantly from lower and middle classes with some wealthy members
Situation
Paul addresses reports of improper conduct during worship gatherings, specifically regarding head coverings during prayer and prophecy, and serious abuses during the communal meal and Lord's Supper.
Key Background
Corinth was a cosmopolitan center of trade, culture, and religious diversity, known for wealth and moral permissiveness. The church struggled with divisions along social and economic lines, which were being reinforced during their communal meals where wealthy members ate lavishly while poor members went hungry. Head covering practices carried significant cultural meaning related to honor, gender roles, and social status in both Greco-Roman and Jewish contexts.
my the same way I the of the
I want to acknowledge you — you remember me in everything and hold on to the exactly as I passed them on to you.
But I want you to understand that the is the of every man, the man is the of the woman, and God is the of the
Every man who prays or with something on his head his head.
But every woman who prays or speaks God's message with her head dishonors her head — it's the same as if she had her head
If a woman doesn't cover her head, she might as well cut her hair off. But if it's for a woman to cut her hair off or shave her head, then she should cover her head.
A man shouldn't cover his head, since he is the and of God. But the woman is the of the man.
After all, man didn't come from woman — woman came from man.
And man wasn't created for the sake of woman — woman was created for the sake of man.
That's why a woman should have a of on her head, because of the
But here's the thing — in the woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman.
Because just as woman came from man, so man is born through woman — and everything comes from God.
Think about it for yourselves — is it for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
Doesn't itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it's a disgrace to him?
But if a woman has long hair, it's to be of? Her hair was given to her as a natural
But if anyone wants to argue about this — we don't have any such practice, and neither do any of God's
Now in giving you these next instructions, I can't say you're doing well — because your meetings are doing more harm than good.
First of all, I hear that when you come together as a there are among you — and I partly believe it.
Of course there have to be among you, so that it becomes clear which of you are the
So when you all come together, it's not really the you're eating.
Because when you eat, everyone rushes ahead with their own meal. One person goes hungry while another
Don't you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on God's and the people who have nothing? What am I supposed to say to you? Should I praise you? Absolutely not.
Because I from the what I also passed on to you: On the night the Jesus was he took bread,
and after he broke it and said, "This is my which is for you. Do this to me."
In the same way, after the meal he took the cup and said, "This cup is the new sealed by my Every time you drink it, do this to remember me."
Because every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are the Lord's death he
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a way that dishonors him will be for the Lord's body and blood.
Everyone should at before they eat the bread and drink the cup.
Because anyone who eats and drinks without what the eats and drinks on themselves.
That's why so many of you are and sick, and a number of you have
But if we we wouldn't come under judgment.
But when the Lord does judge us, he's us so that we won't be along with the rest of the
So then, my and when you come together to eat — wait for each other.
If anyone is hungry, eat at home — so that when you come together it won't bring judgment on you. I'll out the other issues when I come.