Day 144 – Monday, July 21, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

1 Corinthians 11

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Imitate Me

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 

(1 Corinthians 11:1, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul’s last discussion ends with an imperative that sums it up, and was placed as the first words of this chapter, “Imitate me.”
• This statement refers to his manner of having liberty, but not using it to offend others.
• It is interesting that Paul says this with the caveat that his disciples’ imitation of him should be predicated on his following Christ.
• Indiscriminate loyalty to a leader should not condone immoral or illegal behavior.

Head Coverings

² Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. ⁴ Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. ⁵ But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. ⁶ For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. ⁷ For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. ⁸ For man is not from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. ¹⁰ For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹² For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

¹³ Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁵ But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. 

(1 Corinthians 11:2–16, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then moves into a discussion about head coverings. It is tradition for women to cover heir heads and men not to do so. This is from the line of authority that starts with God, then Christ, then man, then woman.
• As this is listed as a tradition, it is not necessarily spiritual law, but it is something that Paul deems a logical tradition of the church at that time. It is symbolic, but represents order of creation and authority. Paul makes it clear that neither gender is independent from the other, though, and both have some level of precedence. Woman came from man, but man is born from woman.
• At the end of the discussion, though, Paul says not to contend about the issue, for there is no such custom in the Church of God.

Conduct at the Lord’s Supper

¹⁷ Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ²⁰ Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. ²¹ For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. 

(1 Corinthians 11:17–22, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• In this section, Paul again condemns the sectarianism that is seen in the Corinthian church.
• It is even evident in their practice of the Lord’s supper. Some partake before others, and eat and drink much, so that others get little or nothing.
• Paul instructs them to eat their meals at home, and to be equal at the house of God.
• He is very displeased with this display of preference to the faction of which they are a part.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

²³ For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 

(1 Corinthians 11:23–26, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul reminds them of the events of the first Lord’s supper, as Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples just before His arrest at Gethsemane.
• Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread, representing His body being broken for His disciples.
• He then took the cup and told them that it represented His blood of the new covenant.
• He instructed His disciples to do this in remembrance of Him.

Examine Yourself

²⁷ Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. ³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 

(1 Corinthians 11:27–34, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then gets back to his instructions of the church. Don’t partake in an unworthy manner. Examine yourself and repent, or else suffer the judgment that will follow if you do not.
• Weakness, sickness, and even death follow unworthy attitudes and actions.
• Prefer your brother or sister during the Lord’s supper, and eat at home for your meal.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.