1.
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Verse 1
Two subjects are considered in this chapter, both of which, it would appear, had been referred to the apostle in the letter from the Corinthian church. The first (1 Corinthians 11:3-16) relates to the demeanor of females in the meetings of the church, and the second (1 Corinthians 11:17-34) to the mode of celebrating the Lord's supper.
2.
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Verse 4
Dishonoreth his head; his lord; inasmuch as, according, to the customs of society then prevailing, for a man to be covered in the presence of a superior was a mark of disrespect.
5.
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Verse 5
Dishonoreth her head; that is, man; for it was required, in a similar manner, by the customs of society, that woman should be veiled in public, in token of modesty and subordination.
6.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
Verse 6
Let her also be shorn; that is, she may as well be shorn. Being shorn was a badge of deep disgrace.
7.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Verse 7
The meaning is, that the retiring and modest demeanor, appropriate to the character and station of woman, is not required of man.
8.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Verse 8
That is, the woman was created as secondary and auxiliary to man.
9.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10.
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Verse 10
This passage is generally considered as unexplained. The researches of interpreters throw no light upon it whatever.
11.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
Verse 11
Without the woman; independent of her. They are intended to be joined in mutual dependence and support.
12.
For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of god.
13.
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14.
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
Verse 14
Is a shame unto him; being a mark of effeminacy.
15.
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16.
But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Verse 16
Seem to be contentious; is not satisfied with the considerations above presented, but still resists.--We have no such custom, &c.; that is, the settled practice of the churches forbids that a woman should appear in public, in the bold and open manner which is proper for man. The principle established by the apostle may be generally stated thus,--that when woman appears before the assemblies of Christians as a speaker at all, she must do it in a modest and unassuming manner, suited to her subordinate position, and according to the forms prescribed by the established usages of society.
17.
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
Verse 17
Not for the better; in such a manner that no good results.
18.
For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Verse 18
And I partly believe it. This disposition of the apostle to abate something from the evil of the reports which he heard against his brethren, is an example to us all. Instead of reluctantly admitting, such evidence, and believing only a part, men generally believe a little more than is told them.
19.
For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20.
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
Verse 20
When ye come together; in your religious assemblies.--This is not, &c.; is not honestly and truly.
21.
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
Verse 21
Every one taketh, &c.; that is, in disorder and confusion.--Is drunken. Some persons, unwilling to admit that intoxicating drink was used by the early Christians at the Lord's supper, understand this expression to mean is surfeited. Others, however, contend that there is no sufficient ground for deviating from the proper signification of the original term, which is well represented by the English phrase as it stands. Still we are not to suppose that absolute intoxication is intended. It is strange that the solemn ceremony of the Lord's supper should be perverted so soon to any such excesses; but the temptation to such a sin was probably greatly increased among these converts, by the idolatrous revellings which prevailed around them, and to which they had themselves, perhaps, been accustomed.
22.
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23.
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24.
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Verse 27
Unworthily; in an unworthy manner; that is, in the irreverent and disorderly manner condemned above.--Guilty of the body and blood, &c.; guilty of treating them with profane disrespect.
28.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
Verse 29
Not discerning the Lord's body; not discerning the spiritual character and import of the ceremony; that is, he makes no distinction between the Lord's supper and an ordinary festival.
30.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
Verse 30
Weak and sickly; in their spiritual condition.--Sleep; are in a state of spiritual slumber; so this expression is used in other places. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:6.) Many commentators understand this language to refer to bodily diseases and death, sent among these offenders in judgment for their sins.
31.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
Verse 31
If we would judge ourselves; examine ourselves, and correct what is wrong.--Be judged; be condemned and punished by God.
32.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33.
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34.
And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.