1 Corinthians 11

1 Be imitators of me, in so far as I in turn am an imitator of Christ.

[Follow my example], just like I [try to] follow Christ’s example.

2 Now I commend you for remembering me in everything, and because you hold fast truths and practices precisely as I have taught them to you.

I praise you because you remember all the things [that I taught you] and because you follow the instructions that I gave you. You have done just like I told you to do.

3 I would have you know, however, that of every man, Christ is the Head, that of a woman her husband is the Head, and that God is Christ's Head.

[Now], I want you to know that the one who has authority over [MTY] every man is Christ, and the ones who have authority over women are men (OR, their husbands), and the one who has authority over Christ is God.

4 A man who wears a veil when praying or prophesying dishonors his Head;

[So] if any man [wears a covering over] his head when he prays or speaks a message God gave him, he disgraces himself [SYN].

5 but a woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her Head, for it is exactly the same as if she had her hair cut short.

Also, if any woman does not wear a covering over her head when she prays or speaks a message that God gave her, she disgraces herself (OR, she dishonors her husband). That would be acting like [SIM] [women who are ashamed because] their heads have been shaved.

6 If a woman will not wear a veil, let her also cut off her hair. But since it is a dishonor to a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her wear a veil.

So, if women do not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], they should let someone shave their heads [so that they will be ashamed]. But since women are ashamed if someone cuts their hair [short] or shaves off their hair, they should wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them].

7 For a man ought not to have a veil on his head, since he is the image and glory of God; while woman is the glory of man.

Men should not wear coverings over their heads [when they pray or speak messages that God gave them], because they represent what God is like [MET] and they show how great God is. But women show how great men (OR, their husbands) are.

8 Man does not take his origin from woman, but woman takes hers from man.

[Remember that God intends that men have authority over women. We know that] because [God] did not make [the first] man, [Adam], from the [first] woman, [Eve]. Instead, he made that woman [from a bone that he took] from the man.

9 For man was not created for woman's sake, but woman for man's.

Also, [God] did not create [the first] man [to help] the woman. Instead, [he] created the woman [to help] the man.

10 That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels.

For that reason, women should wear something [to cover] their heads [as a symbol of their being under their husbands’] [MTY] authority. They should also [cover their heads] so that the angels [will see that and rejoice].

11 Yet, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man independent of woman.

However, remember that [even though God created the first] woman from [the first] man, all other men [have been born] from women. So men cannot be independent of women, nor can women be independent of men. But all things, [including men and women], come from God.

12 For just as woman originates from man, so also man comes into existence through woman, but everything springs originally from God.

13 Judge of this for your own selves: is it seemly for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled?

Consider this for yourselves: Is it proper for [RHQ] women to pray to God while they do not have coverings over their heads?

14 Does not Nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him,

(Everyone senses that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair./Doesn’t everyone sense that it is disgraceful for men to have long hair?) [RHQ]

15 but that if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because her hair was given her for a covering?

But it is very delightful if women have long hair, because [God] gave them long hair to be like a [beautiful] covering [for their heads].

16 But if any one is inclined to be contentious on the point, we have no such custom, nor have the Churches of God.

But whoever wants to argue [with me about my saying that women should have a covering over their heads when they pray or speak a message from God should consider the fact that] we [apostles] do not [permit] any other custom, and the [other] congregations of God do not have any other custom.

17 But while giving you these instructions, there is one thing I cannot praise--your meeting together, with bad rather than good results.

Now I want to tell you [about some other things]. I do not praise you about them, because whenever you believers meet together, good [things do not happen]. Instead, bad things [happen].

18 for, in the first place, when you meet as a Church, there are divisions among you. This is what I am told, and I believe that there is some truth in it.

First of all, people have told me that when you gather together as a group [to worship God], you divide into groups [that are hostile to each other]. To some extent I believe that is true.

19 For there must of necessity be differences of opinion among you, in order that it may be plainly seen who are the men of sterling worth among you.

It seems that you must divide into [groups that despise each other] in order that it might be clear/evident which people among you [God] approves of!

20 When, however, you meet in one place, there is no eating the Supper of the Lord;

When you gather together, you [IRO] eat the meal [that you say is to remember the death of] the Lord [Jesus for us].

21 for it is his own supper of which each of you is in a hurry to partake, and one eats like a hungry man, while another has already drunk to excess.

But [what happens when] you eat is that each person eats his own meal before [he thinks about sharing his food with anyone else]. As a result, [when the meal is over], some people are [still] hungry and others are drunk! [So it is not a meal that honors the Lord].

22 Why, have you no homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you wish to show your contempt for the Church of God and make those who have no homes feel ashamed? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I certainly do not praise you.

([You act as though] you do not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]!/Do you not have your own houses in which you can eat and drink [whatever you want to]?) [RHQ] Do you not realize [RHQ] [that by acting selfishly in this way], it is God’s people whom you are despising, and it is the poor people [in your group] whom you are treating as though they were not important? What shall I say to you about that [RHQ]? Do [you expect] me to praise you [about what you do] [RHQ]? I certainly will not praise you!

23 For it was from the Lord that I received the facts which, in turn, I handed on to you; how that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was to be betrayed, took some bread,

The Lord taught me these things that I also taught you: During the night that Jesus was betrayed {[Judas] enabled [the enemies of] the Lord Jesus to seize him}, he took some bread.

24 and after giving thanks He broke it and said, "This is my body which is about to be broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

After he thanked God for it, he broke it into pieces. [Then he gave it to his disciples] and said, “This bread [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my body, that [I am about to sacrifice] for you. Eat bread in this [way again and again] to remember my [offering myself as a sacrifice for you].”

25 In the same way, when the meal was over, He also took the cup. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant of which my blood is the pledge. Do this, every time that you drink it, in memory of me."

Similarly, after they ate their meal, he took a cup [MTY] [of wine]. He [thanked God for it. Then he gave it to his disciples], saying, “[The wine in] [MTY] this cup [represents] [MET] (OR, is) my blood [that will flow from my body] ([to put into effect/to establish]) the new agreement [that God is making with people]. Whenever you drink wine in this way, do it to remember that [my blood flowed for you].”

26 For every time that you eat this bread and drink from the cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death--until He returns.

[Remember that] until the Lord [Jesus] returns [to the earth], whenever you eat the [bread that represents his body] and drink the wine [MTY] [that represents his blood], you are telling other people that he died [for you].

27 Whoever, therefore, in an unworthy manner, eats the bread or drinks from the cup of the Lord sins against the body and blood of the Lord.

So, those who eat that bread and drink that wine [MTY] in a way that is not proper [for those who belong to the Lord] are guilty of [acting in a way that is contrary to what] our [Lord intended when he offered] his body [as a sacrifice] and his blood [flowed when he died].

28 But let a man examine himself, and, having done that, then let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.

Before any believer eats that bread and drinks that wine [MTY], he should think carefully about [what he is doing],

29 For any one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself, if he fails to estimate the body aright.

because if anyone eats [the bread that represents Christ’s body] and drinks [the wine that represents his blood] without recognizing that all God’s [people should be united, God will] punish him [for doing that].

30 That is why many among you are sickly and out of health, and why not a few die.

Many people in your group are weak and sick, and several have died [EUP] because of [the way they acted when they ate that bread and drank that wine].

31 If, however, we estimated ourselves aright, we should not be judged.

If we would think carefully about what we [are doing], [God] would not judge [and punish] us [like that].

32 But when we are judged by the Lord, chastisement follows, to save us from being condemned along with the world.

But when the Lord judges [and punishes] us [for acting wrongly], he disciplines us [to correct us], in order that he will not [need to] punish us when he punishes [the people who do not trust in Christ] [MTY].

33 Therefore, brethren, when you come together for this meal, wait for one another.

So, my fellow believers, when you gather together to eat [food to remember the Lord’s dying for you], wait until everyone [has arrived so that you can find out who does not have enough food].

34 If any one is hungry, let him eat at home; so that your coming together may not lead to judgement. The other matters I will deal with whenever I come.

Those who are so hungry [that they cannot wait to eat until everyone else has arrived] should eat in their own homes [first], in order that when you gather together God will not judge [and punish them for] ([being inconsiderate of/not being concerned about]) [others]. And when I come [to Corinth] I will give you instructions about other matters [concerning the Lord’s Supper].