1 Corinthians 11:2-13:13

New International Version

On Covering the Head in Worship

² I praise you^(A) for remembering me in everything^(B) and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.^{(C) 3} But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ,^(D) and the head of the woman is man,^[a](E) and the head of Christ is God.^{(F) 4} Every man who prays or prophesies^(G) with his head covered dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies^(H) with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.^{(I) 6} For 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.

⁷ A man ought not to cover his head,^[b] since he is the image^(J) and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;^{(K) 9} neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.^{(L) 10} It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own^[c] head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. ¹² For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.^(M)

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

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper^(O)

¹⁷ In the following directives I have no praise for you,^(P) for your meetings do more harm than good. ¹⁸ In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions^(Q) among you, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.^{(R) 20} So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹ for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.^(S) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God^(T) by humiliating those who have nothing?^(U) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?^(V) Certainly not in this matter!

²³ For I received from the Lord^(W) what I also passed on to you:^(X) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,^(Y) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant^(Z) in my blood;^(AA) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.^(AB)

²⁷ So 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.^{(AC) 28} Everyone ought to examine themselves^(AD) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.^{(AE) 31} But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.^{(AF) 32} Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined^(AG) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.^(AH)

³³ So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. ³⁴ Anyone who is hungry^(AI) should eat something at home,^(AJ) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come^(AK) I will give further directions.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,^(AL) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.^{(AM) 2} You know that when you were pagans,^(AN) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.^{(AO) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”^(AP) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”^(AQ) except by the Holy Spirit.^(AR)

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit^(AS) distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone^(AT) it is the same God^(AU) at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.^{(AV) 8} To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,^(AW) to another a message of knowledge^(AX) by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith^(AY) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing^(AZ) by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,^(BA) to another prophecy,^(BB) to another distinguishing between spirits,^(BC) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[d](BD) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[e] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,^(BE) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(BF) so it is with Christ.^{(BG) 13} For we were all baptized^(BH) by^[f] one Spirit^(BI) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(BJ)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(BK) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(BL)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(BM) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(BN) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(BO)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(BP) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(BQ) 28} And God has placed in the church^(BR) first of all apostles,^(BS) second prophets,^(BT) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(BU) of helping, of guidance,^(BV) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(BW) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[g]?^(BX) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(BY) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[h](BZ) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(CA) and can fathom all mysteries^(CB) and all knowledge,^(CC) and if I have a faith^(CD) that can move mountains,^(CE) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(CF) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[i](CG) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(CH) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(CI) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(CJ) it is not easily angered,^(CK) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(CL) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(CM) but rejoices with the truth.^{(CN) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(CO)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(CP) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(CQ) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(CR) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(CS) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(CT) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(CU) then we shall see face to face.^(CV) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(CW)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(CX) But the greatest of these is love.^(CY)