"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
Chapter Eleven
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To ascertain if Paul's instructions concerning the veil were meant
to be applied today, or if he was simply admonishing them to abide
by what was a social custom of their day
2) To notice the purpose of the Lord's Supper and the manner in which
it is to be observed
SUMMARY
Having spent three chapters discussing the issue of eating things
sacrificed to idols, Paul now quickly covers two separate matters in
this one chapter. The first pertains to women praying and prophesying
with heads uncovered (2-16). In view of what we are able to glean
about the society of Corinth, and from comments made by Paul in this
chapter and elsewhere, I believe that the problem Paul addresses is one
that was occurring out in public and not in the assembly. Beginning in
verse 17 and continuing through chapter 14, Paul covers issues
affecting their assemblies as a church, the first being the manner in
which they abused the observance of the Lord's Supper (17-34).
OUTLINE
I. WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (2-16)
A. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS (2-5a)
1. Commendation for having kept the apostolic traditions
delivered to them (2)
2. A reminder concerning the proper line of authority (3)
3. Concerning praying and prophesying (4-5a)
a. Every man who does so with head covered dishonors his head
(Christ)
b. Every woman who does so with head uncovered dishonors her
head (man)
B. EXPLANATORY COMMENTS (5b-16)
1. A woman praying or prophesying uncovered would make her appear
as one shorn or shaved (5a)
a. If a woman is not covered, let her be shorn (6a)
b. If to be shorn or shaved is shameful, let her be covered
(6b)
2. It is proper for a man not to cover his head (7-9)
a. Man is the image and glory of God, while woman is the glory
of man (7)
b. Man did not come from woman, nor was created for woman (8-9)
3. It is appropriate for a woman to have a symbol of authority on
her head, because of angels (10)
4. This is not to say that man is independent of woman (11-12)
a. Especially in the Lord (11)
b. For as the woman is from the man, so the man is through the
woman (12a)
c. And all things are from God (12b)
5. Judge this matter for yourselves (13-15)
a. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with uncovered
head? (13)
b. Does not even nature teach you? (14-15)
1) That long hair on a man is a dishonor to him? (14)
2) That long hair on a woman is a glory to her, and
provides a covering? (15)
6. But if anyone is contentious about this matter... (16)
a. We have no such custom (i.e., this is not an "apostolic
tradition")
b. Nor do the churches of God
II. CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER (17-34)
A. THE CONDUCT AT CORINTH IN REGARDS TO THE LORD'S SUPPER (17-22)
1. He cannot praise them for their conduct in their assemblies
(17-19)
a. Their coming together is not for the better, but for the
worse (17)
b. He has heard of their divisions, of which the only good
thing that could be said is that it does show who is really
approved among them (18-19)
2. Especially in regards to the Lord's Supper (20-22)
a. Their divisiveness made it impossible to eat properly, and
led to severe abuses (20-21)
b. They despised the church and shamed the poor, for which
Paul could not praise them (22)
B. THE INSTITUTION AND PROPER OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
(23-34)
1. The institution as received by Paul directly from the Lord
(23-25)
2. Properly observed, it is a proclamation of the Lord's death
(26)
3. Properly observed, it is accompanied by self-examination
(27-32)
a. Which enables us to observe it without bringing judgment to
ourselves (27-29)
b. Otherwise, we will be judged and chastened by the Lord,
that we might not be condemned with the world (30-32)
4. Concluding instructions (33-34)
a. When you come together to eat the Supper, wait for one
another (33)
b. If you are hungry, eat at home (34a)
c. Paul will have more to say when he comes to Corinth (34b)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) List the main points of this chapter
- Women Praying And Prophesying With Head Uncovered (2-16)
- Concerning The Lord's Supper (17-34)
2) For what does Paul commend the church in Corinth? (2)
- Remembering him and keeping the traditions as he delivered to them
3) What is the proper order of authority? (3)
- God, Christ, Man, Woman
4) What evidence is there that Paul is discussing praying and
prophesying out in public, and not in the assembly?
- His commendation in verse 2 (they were keeping the apostolic
traditions delivered to them)
- His question in verse 13 (they would have answered "yes" if they
were being asked concerning women in a religious assembly in
Corinth; see The Expositors' Greek Testament)
- His remarks in verses 17-18 (he at this point begins to address
abuses in their assemblies)
- His commandments in 14:34-37 (concerning women in the assembly)
5) What evidence is there that Paul is encouraging them to act in
harmony with the customs of their day?
- His comments in verses 5-6 (arguing on the basis of "IF it is
shameful...")
- His appeal to propriety in verse 13 ("is it proper...?")
- His conclusion in verse 16 (this is not an "apostolic" or "church"
custom)
6) How did Paul feel about eating common meals in the assemblies?
(22, 34)
- He did not approve, and strongly condemned those who did
7) What is the purpose of the Lord's Supper? (24-26)
- A memorial in which we proclaim the Lord's death
8) How should one observe the Lord's Supper? (27-29)
- In a worthy manner
- With self-examination
- Discerning the Lord's body
9) How can we avoid the judgement of God? (31)
- By judging ourselves
10) What is God's purpose in judging His children? (32)
- To chasten, that we not be condemned with the world
11) What appears to be an important element in observing the Lord's
Supper? (33; Acts 20:7)
- That it be done "together"
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