By Dan Maines

1 Corinthians 11 Paraphrased
Introduction
† Paul now addresses conduct within the gatherings of believers in Corinth where disorder had begun to appear.
† The instructions focus on honor, order, and the proper observance of the Lord's Supper among the saints.
† Early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian confirm that the earliest churches treated worship gatherings with reverence and discipline.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Follow my example just as I follow Christ.
† Paul calls believers to imitate the life he modeled which was shaped by obedience to Christ.
† Apostolic authority came through faithful imitation of the Lord's teaching and conduct (Philippians 3:17).
† Ignatius taught that believers should imitate Christ through the pattern handed down by the apostles.
1 Corinthians 11:2
I praise you because you remember the teachings I gave you and you hold firmly to the traditions that were passed on to you.
† The traditions refer to apostolic teaching delivered to the churches.
† Paul commends them for remembering the instructions he had already given.
† Irenaeus later wrote that the churches preserved the teachings handed down from the apostles.
1 Corinthians 11:3
I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.
† This explains the order of responsibility established by God.
† The passage speaks of structured authority rather than inequality (John 5:19).
† Tertullian wrote that church order reflects the divine order established by God.
1 Corinthians 11:4
Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
† In Corinthian culture covering the head could reflect pagan religious practice.
† Paul corrects behavior that could blur the distinction between Christian worship and pagan customs.
† Clement of Alexandria urged believers to distinguish their worship from pagan rituals.
1 Corinthians 11:5
Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head because it is the same as if her head were shaved.
† In that society an uncovered head could signal shame or rebellion.
† Paul instructs believers to maintain honorable conduct within their cultural setting.
† Early Christian writings confirm modest appearance during worship gatherings.
1 Corinthians 11:6
If a woman does not cover her head she might as well have her hair cut off, but since it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved she should cover her head.
† Paul reasons from social customs understood in Corinth.
† The instruction focuses on preserving dignity in the assembly.
† Tertullian wrote that Christian modesty should reflect reverence toward God.
1 Corinthians 11:7
A man should not cover his head because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man.
† Paul connects his argument to the creation account.
† The statement reflects relational origin within God's design (Genesis 2:21-23).
† Early Christian teachers consistently referenced Genesis when explaining this passage.
1 Corinthians 11:8
Man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.
† This refers to the creation of Eve from Adam.
† Paul grounds his reasoning in the beginning of human history.
† Irenaeus often appealed to Genesis when explaining apostolic teaching.
1 Corinthians 11:9
Man was not created for the woman, but woman was created for the man.
† The statement refers to companionship described in the creation narrative.
† It reflects complementary roles within God's design.
† Clement of Alexandria described marriage as a partnership ordered by God.
1 Corinthians 11:10
For this reason the woman should have authority on her head because of the angels.
† Angels were understood to observe the worship of believers.
† The instruction emphasizes reverence during worship in the presence of heavenly witnesses.
† Early Christian teaching often spoke of angels present during gatherings of believers.
1 Corinthians 11:11
However in the Lord woman is not independent of man and man is not independent of woman.
† Paul balances his earlier statements by stressing mutual dependence.
† In Christ both men and women share equal value and purpose.
† The unity of believers reflects God's design for the church.
1 Corinthians 11:12
Just as the woman came from the man so the man is born through the woman and all things come from God.
† Both men and women depend on one another in God's design.
† Ultimately all life and order come from God.
† Early Christian teachers emphasized this mutual dependence.
1 Corinthians 11:13
Judge for yourselves, is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered.
† Paul invites them to consider the cultural understanding of honor.
† The Corinthians could recognize what conduct appeared shameful in their society.
† This shows that some instructions addressed the customs of that culture.
1 Corinthians 11:14
Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him.
† In the Greco Roman world long hair on men often carried negative social meaning.
† Paul appeals to commonly recognized cultural norms.
† Early Christian writers acknowledged this cultural context.
1 Corinthians 11:15
But if a woman has long hair it is her glory because her hair is given to her as a covering.
† Long hair symbolized beauty and honor for women in that society.
† Paul uses this distinction to reinforce visible order during worship.
† Clement of Alexandria described modest appearance as reflecting inward reverence.
1 Corinthians 11:16
If anyone wants to argue about this we have no other practice nor do the churches of God.
† Paul states that the churches shared a consistent practice.
† Unity among congregations preserved peace and order.
† Early Christian writings repeatedly emphasize unity among the churches.
1 Corinthians 11:17
In the following instructions I cannot praise you because your gatherings are doing more harm than good.
† Paul now turns to the disorder that had developed during the Lord's Supper.
† Their meetings were harming the church rather than strengthening it.
† Worship gatherings were meant to build unity and faith.
1 Corinthians 11:18
When you come together as a church I hear that divisions exist among you and I partly believe it.
† Reports had reached Paul about factions within the church.
† Division had already been addressed earlier in the letter (1 Corinthians 1:10).
† Unity was essential for the testimony of the church.
1 Corinthians 11:19
There must also be factions among you so that those who are genuine may become evident.
† Conflict often reveals who remains faithful to truth.
† Trials expose sincere faith among believers.
† Early Christian writers observed that persecution revealed genuine disciples.
1 Corinthians 11:20
When you gather together it is not really to eat the Lord's Supper.
† Their behavior had corrupted the sacred memorial.
† The gathering had become a selfish meal rather than remembrance of Christ.
† The early church treated the Lord's Supper with reverence.
1 Corinthians 11:21
When you eat each one goes ahead with his own meal and one person is hungry while another becomes drunk.
† Wealthy members were indulging themselves while poorer believers were neglected.
† This behavior contradicted the unity symbolized by the Lord's Supper.
† Tertullian wrote that Christian meals were meant to reflect charity and equality.
1 Corinthians 11:22
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 should I say to you should I praise you, I do not praise you.
† Paul rebukes their disregard for poorer believers.
† Church gatherings were not meant to become displays of wealth.
† Early Christians emphasized sharing resources with those in need.
1 Corinthians 11:23
I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread.
† Paul reminds them that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ himself.
† The memorial was handed down as an apostolic tradition.
† Early Christian writings repeat this same account.
1 Corinthians 11:24
After giving thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is for you, do this in remembrance of me.
† The bread represents Christ's body given in sacrifice.
† The meal keeps the memory of Christ's death central to the church.
† Early believers regularly observed this memorial during gatherings.
1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way he took the cup after supper saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
† The cup represents the covenant established through Christ's sacrifice.
† This covenant fulfilled the promises spoken by the prophets.
† The early church proclaimed the covenant through this memorial meal.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Whenever you eat this bread and drink the cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
† The supper publicly declares the saving work of Christ.
† In the fulfilled perspective this proclamation pointed toward the covenant transition completed in the first century.
† The early church saw the supper as proclamation of redemption.
1 Corinthians 11:27
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner becomes guilty of dishonoring the body and blood of the Lord.
† Careless participation treats Christ's sacrifice with disrespect.
† The issue is approaching the memorial without reverence.
† Early church writers warned believers to approach the table seriously.
1 Corinthians 11:28
Each person must examine himself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
† Self examination protects the heart from hypocrisy.
† Believers reflect on faith, repentance, and unity.
† Early Christian gatherings practiced confession before communion.
1 Corinthians 11:29
Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
† Recognizing the body includes understanding the meaning of Christ's sacrifice.
† It also includes respecting the unity of believers.
† Ignoring this unity brought consequences in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 11:30
Because of this many among you are weak and sick and some have fallen asleep.
† Paul explains that divine discipline had already affected the church.
† Fallen asleep was a common way to describe death among believers.
† The discipline served as correction rather than destruction.
1 Corinthians 11:31
But if we judged ourselves properly we would not be judged.
† Honest self examination prevents divine discipline.
† Repentance removes the need for correction.
† This principle emphasizes humility within the church.
1 Corinthians 11:32
When we are judged we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned with the world.
† God's discipline protects believers from final condemnation.
† Correction demonstrates God's care for his people.
† Early Christian teachers described discipline as mercy.
1 Corinthians 11:33
So then my brothers and sisters when you come together to eat wait for one another.
† Paul calls the church to patience and unity.
† The gathering should reflect love and mutual respect.
† Waiting prevented the selfish behavior seen earlier.
1 Corinthians 11:34
If anyone is hungry he should eat at home so that when you gather it will not result in judgment, and I will give further instructions when I come.
† The Lord's Supper was not meant to satisfy hunger but to remember Christ.
† Paul planned to address further issues when he visited Corinth.
† The instruction restores the sacred purpose of the gathering.
Historical References
† Clement of Alexandria wrote that Christian worship should be conducted with reverence and modesty.
† Tertullian described the Lord's Supper as a sacred memorial observed with seriousness.
† Irenaeus affirmed that the churches preserved the teachings handed down from the apostles.
How it applies to us today
† Worship should be approached with reverence and humility.
† Christian gatherings should demonstrate unity rather than division.
† The Lord's Supper reminds believers of Christ's sacrifice and covenant.
† Self examination remains essential before sacred acts.
† Believers must treat one another with equality and love.
Q & A Appendix
Q Why did Paul rebuke the Corinthian church in this chapter
A Because their gatherings had become selfish and divided which dishonored the purpose of the Lord's Supper
Q What does the bread represent in the supper
A It represents the body of Christ given in sacrifice for believers
Q What does the cup represent
A It represents the new covenant established through the blood of Christ
Q Why is self examination important
A Because believers must approach the memorial with humility and reverence
Q What lesson does the chapter teach about church gatherings
A That worship must be conducted with order unity and respect
† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.
Source Index
† 1 Corinthians 11
† Clement of Alexandria, Stromata
† Tertullian, Apology
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies