Study Desk

¹Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.^(a)

Now I praise you^[a] because you always remember me and keep the traditions^(b) just as I delivered^(c) them to you.

But I want you to know that Christ is the head^(d) of every man, and the man is the head of the woman,^[b](e) and God is the head of Christ.^(f)

Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors^(g) his head.

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.^(h)

So if a woman's head^[c] is not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.

A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God's image⁽ⁱ⁾ and glory,^(j) but woman is man's glory.

For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.^(k)

And man was not created for woman, but woman for man.

This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman.

For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.^(l)

Judge^(m) for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Does not even nature itself teach⁽ⁿ⁾ you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace^(o) to him,

but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?^(p) For her hair is given to her^[d] as a covering.

But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other^[e] custom, nor do the churches of God.

Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.

For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.

There must, indeed, be factions^(q) among you, so that those who are approved may be recognized among you.

Therefore, when you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's Supper.^(r)

For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk!

Don't you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you look down on the church of God and embarrass those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I do not praise you for this!

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you:^(s) On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,

gave thanks, broke it, and said,^[f] "This is My body, which is^[g] for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." ^(t)

In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant^(u) established by My blood.^(v) Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death^(w) until He comes.^(x)

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body^[h] and blood of the Lord.

So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup.

For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body,^[i] eats and drinks judgment^(y) on himself.

This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.^(z)

If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged,

but when we are judged,^(aa) we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we may not be condemned^(ab) with the world.

Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. And I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.^(ac)

Now concerning what comes from the Spirit:^[a] brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

You know that when you were pagans, you used to be led off to the idols^(a) that could not speak.^(b)

Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are different gifts,^(c) but the same Spirit.

There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.^[b]

A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person^(d) to produce what is beneficial:

to one^(e) is given a message of wisdom^(f) through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing^(g) by the one Spirit,

to another, the performing of miracles,^(h) to another, prophecy,⁽ⁱ⁾ to another, distinguishing between spirits,^(j) to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.

But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as He wills.

For as the body is one^(k) and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.^(l)

For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.^(m)

So the body is not one part but many.

If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted.⁽ⁿ⁾

And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

Now there are many parts, yet one body.

So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" Or again, the head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you!"

But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable,^(o) we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.

But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,

so that there would be no division^(p) in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ,^(q) and individual members of it.

And God has placed these in the church:^(r) first apostles, second prophets, third teachers,^(s) next miracles,^(t) then gifts of healing,^(u) helping, managing, various kinds of languages.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?^(v)

But desire^(w) the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.