1 Corinthians 11
2 Corinthians 11 is composed of Paul defending his apostolic authority and the authenticity of his ministry. At that time, “false apostles” had infiltrated the Corinthian church, disparaging Paul’s apostleship and proclaiming a different gospel and a different Jesus to the believers in Corinth. In response, Paul emphasizes his sufferings and weakness, showing what the true minister’s life looks like.
- Verses 1–6: Paul’s caution and zeal, and his tender concern for the Corinthians
- Verses 7–15: Comparison with false apostles and an explanation of Paul’s approach to ministry
- Verses 16–33: Emphasizing the truthfulness of his apostleship through his weakness and suffering
1verseBe imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2verseNow I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.
3verseBut I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
4verseEvery man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
5verseBut every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.
6verseFor if a woman is not covered, let her hair also be cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her be covered.
7verseFor a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.
8verseFor man is not from woman, but woman from man;
9versefor man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man.
10verseFor this cause the woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.
11verseNevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.
12verseFor as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.
13verseJudge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled?
14verseDoesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
15verseBut if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16verseBut if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
17verseBut in giving you this command I don’t praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.
18verseFor first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
19verseFor there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
20verseWhen therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
21verseFor in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.
22verseWhat, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.
23verseFor I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
24verseWhen he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
25verseIn the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
26verseFor as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27verseTherefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28verseBut let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29verseFor he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
30verseFor this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
31verseFor if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged.
32verseBut when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33verseTherefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
34verseBut if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
Explanation of the Main Content
Paul deeply worries that the Corinthians not stray from the gospel he preached. Even his love is expressed to the point of being like “God’s holy jealousy” (verses 1–3).
Continuing on, Paul explains why he preached the gospel to the Corinthian church without charge (verses 7–12). He clarifies that it was not because of selfishness or weakness, but so that he would not give anyone an excuse or a pretext by preaching the gospel for free.
In the following passage (verses 13–15), Paul clearly identifies those who attack him as “false apostles,” warning that they are pretending to be apostles, deceived into it by Satan’s schemes.
In the final section (verses 16–33), Paul lists the various sufferings and trials he went through. He emphasizes that it is not the standards of the world, but rather the grace and power of God revealed in weakness and suffering that marks a true apostle as such.
Points for Reflection
- When thinking about the true nature of ministry and the gospel, we can consider that it is not revealed through the world’s standards or glamour, but rather through weakness and self-sacrifice.
- It becomes an opportunity to check whether the gospel I listen to and follow truly centers on Jesus Christ, or whether I might be following other standards or other people instead.
Applying It to Myself
- I reflect on whether my faith and service are rooted in the fundamental gospel rather than being drawn toward outward things.
- Just as Paul regarded his own confessed weakness and suffering as a boast in sharing, I can trust that the difficulties and humbling I experience in my life are actually opportunities for God’s work to be revealed.
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