1 Corinthians 11

Paul’s first letter to the CorinthiansChapter 11 – two main sections v. 2-16 Propriety in Worship

Head coverings for women v. 17-34 The Lord’s Supper

How to eat together

What do they possibly have in common?

13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.What do they possibly have in

common?

33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. 

What do they possibly have in common?

Propriety in Worship

2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.

The Lord’s Supper

 17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.

What do they possibly have in common?

Parallel Structure

What does Paul spend his ink talking about?

3Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 

What does Paul spend his ink talking about?

6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 

What does Paul spend his ink talking about?

9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

What does Paul spend his ink talking about?

Is he talking about a Godly fashion decree?

Is he talking about specific styles? What was the Hebrew law/custom? What was the Greek law/custom? What was the Roman law/custom?

What was the fashion of the day?

What was the fashion of our day?

What was the fashion of our day?

After 20 years, we can guess within 4.After 50 years, we can guess within 10.After 200 years, we can guess within 40.After 2000 years…

Big variations

So what was Paul telling the Corinthians?

So what was Paul telling all of us?

Chapter 11, part 2…

What were the Corinthian Christians doing? v. 18 – They were divided v. 20-21 – They didn’t wait on each other v. 21 – Some got drunk

The point was fellowship – not convenient cafeteria dining.

What were the Corinthian Christians doing?They were sinning because they were doing

what they did in the wrong spirit. Christ wanted us to commune as a body

v. 27 – sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord

v. 29 – anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself

What were the Corinthian Christians doing?They were sinning because

they were not recognizing the body

This is the clue to unlocking the first part of Chapter 11

Chapter and verse are arbitrary additions Paul stated this as a direct case in one

reading

Relationship between Christ and his church

Christ is the head Christ sacrifices for

his people The church submits

to the leadership of Christ

Relationship between husband and wife

The husband is the head

The husband sacrifices for his wife and family

The wife submits to the leadership of the husbandWithin the church, there are separate roles for men and

women

Men and women already looked enough alike!

Men and women already looked enough alike!

The issue is not some Holy Mandate about hair.

It’s about roles. It’s about men being men, and women

being women. It’s about the body being a body, and

not trying to be a head. It’s about the church being the church,

and letting Christ be Christ

Avoid things that would confuse guests or new Christians

Symbolism is a key to understanding If you don’t get the analogy, you don’t

understand the principle Know why you do the things you do We are not saved by rote We are told to examine ourselves