1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:2

Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember all those good instructions, that I gave you; and that ye observe those ritual traditions and ordinances, in that form, that I delivered them unto you.

1 Corinthians 11:3

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. But, I would have you know, that there are several degrees of subjection and subordination. The woman is subject to the man; the man is subject to Christ; and Christ, as Man, is subject to God the Father: and each of these acknowledges a superiority, and headship, in those, to whom they are subject.

1 Corinthians 11:4

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

This being premised, I hold it requisite to admonish you of some indecent fashions, that are used in the congregation, by those of both sexes: for, whereas covering of the head is commonly taken for a sign of subjection, and the uncovering of it a sign of power and superiority, it is contrarily used amongst you: the man, who is the superior, covers his head; and the woman, who is the inferior, uncovers it. Let me therefore tell you: Every man, that prays or prophesies with his head covered, disparages and dishonours himself; and casts off that sign and semblance of superiority, which he should maintain.

1 Corinthians 11:5

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.

But, every woman, that taketh upon her publicly to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered, dishonours herself, in doing that which is against natural modesty and decency; for this bare-headedness in women, is no less unfit and uncomely, than if their heads were shaven.

1 Corinthians 11:6

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.

It is an immodest fashion in the wanton dames of Corinth, that they go abroad in public places, without any veil or covering on their heads: if they will needs take up this mannish fashion, of going uncovered, let them be shaven also; but if it be a shame for a woman to be shaven, as ye cannot but grant, then let her be covered.

1 Corinthians 11:7

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.

For a man ought not, indeed, to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the superior; and, in this superiority, bears the glorious image of God, having none above him to control and over-rule him: but the woman is but the glorious image of the man, and must acknowledge her inferiority and subjection to him.

1 Corinthians 11:10

For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels.

For this cause ought the woman to cover her head, to shew

1 Corinthians 11:11

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

Not that the man ought to insult upon the weakness of the woman, and pride himself in his own superiority; but must consider, that God hath matched them together, so as neither of them can have their being without other.

1 Corinthians 11:12

For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

For, as the woman was first made of the man, so is the man, ever since, conceived and born of the woman; and God is the author and maker of both.

1 Corinthians 11:15

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for the hair is given her for a covering.

But, if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her: for her hair was given to her for a covering: nature itself therein pointing you to that guise and fashion, which is meetest for that sex.

1 Corinthians 11:16

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

But, if any man list to be contentious, and will rather stand upon the justification of these unseemly fashions, let it be sufficient answer for him, that we have no such customs of immodesty and indecency; nor any other of the Churches of Christ: so as he shall be singular in this his opinion.

1 Corinthians 11:17

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse.

But, however I praise you, in a generality of your care and obedience, yet, in this particular, which I am now to write of, I praise you not; that, when ye meet together to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, ye come together, so, as ye are rather the worse, than the better for it.

1 Corinthians 11:19

For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

For there must needs, through the wise and holy ordination of God, be schisms, and sects, and factions among you; that, thereupon, there may be an occasion to try the dispositions and resolutions of men, in that those which are true-hearted and conscionable may approve their fidelity in sticking to the truth.

1 Corinthians 11:20

When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

When ye meet, therefore, in this manner together, ye do not celebrate or eat the Lord’s Supper, as ye pretend and profess; but your own, or the feasts of Bacchus rather.

1 Corinthians 11:21

For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

VOL. IV. B b For, whereas, if ye will needs celebrate the love-feasts, ye ought to meet all together, both rich and poor; and stay one for another, in that love-supper, which you are wont to make immediately before the Eucharist: ye, contrarily, meet together the wealthiest of you, and eat your own good cheer, not expecting your poorer brethren; and so one is hungry, and another is drunken.

1 Corinthians 11:22

What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?

If ye have a mind to feast yourselves, and make choice of your guests, have ye not your own private houses to eat and drink in? Why do ye defile the Church of God, with these partial and immoderate banquets? Why do ye despise and shame the poor, that have not wherewith to feast with you?

1 Corinthians 11:27

Shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Shall be guilty of a horrible profanation of that sacred body and blood of Christ, which is in this Sacrament exhibited and tendered unto him.

1 Corinthians 11:29

Eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Eateth and drinketh just judgment and condemnation to himself, in not considering the greatness of this mystery, and making no difference betwixt this sacred bread, which is sacramentally the body of Christ, and the other common and ordinary bread.

1 Corinthians 11:30

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

For these abuses of this Holy Sacrament, the hand of God hath been upon many of you; so as many of you are afflicted with divers kinds of diseases, and many of you are stricken with death itself.

1 Corinthians 11:31

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Be ye therefore warned hereby, and look carefully into your own hearts, and accuse and censure yourselves for these enormities; that so ye may escape the judgments of diseases and death, which else God will inflict upon you.

1 Corinthians 11:32

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

But when we are thus stricken with sickness and death, we are chastened mercifully, by the Lord, on purpose that we may escape that eternal condemnation, which befals the wicked of the world.