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1 Corinthians 11 :: New International Version (NIV)

1Co 11:1Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

On Covering the Head in Worship

1Co 11:2I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
1Co 11:3But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[fn] and the head of Christ is God.
1Co 11:4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
1Co 11:5But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.
1Co 11:6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
1Co 11:7A man ought not to cover his head,[fn] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
1Co 11:8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;
1Co 11:9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
1Co 11:10It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[fn] head, because of the angels.
1Co 11:11Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
1Co 11:12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
1Co 11:13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
1Co 11:14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
1Co 11:15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.
1Co 11:16If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper

1Co 11:17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.
1Co 11:18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
1Co 11:19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.
1Co 11:20So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat,
1Co 11:21for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.
1Co 11:22Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
1Co 11:23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
1Co 11:24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
1Co 11:25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
1Co 11:26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1Co 11:27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
1Co 11:29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
1Co 11:30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
1Co 11:31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
1Co 11:32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
1Co 11:33So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.
1Co 11:34Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
NIV Footnotes
Or of the wife is her husband
Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
Or 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair dishonors her head—she is just like one of the “shorn women.” 6 If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair; but since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. 7 A man ought not to have long hair
Or have a sign of authority on her
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