Chapter 11

  So take me for your example, even as I take Christ for mine.  

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  Now I am pleased to see that you keep me in memory in all things, and that you give attention to the teaching which was handed down from me to you.  

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  But it is important for you to keep this fact in mind, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.  

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  Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head.  

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  But every woman who does so with her head unveiled, puts shame on her head: for it is the same as if her hair was cut off.  

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  For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled.  

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  For it is not right for a man to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.  

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  For the man did not come from the woman, but the woman from the man.  

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  And the man was not made for the woman, but the woman for the man.  

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  For this reason it is right for the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.  

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  But the woman is not separate from the man, and the man is not separate from the woman in the Lord.  

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  For as the woman is from the man, so the man is through the woman; but all things are from God.  

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  Be judges yourselves of the question: does it seem right for a woman to take part in prayer unveiled?  

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  Does it not seem natural to you that if a man has long hair, it is a cause of shame to him?  

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  But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given to her for a covering.  

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  But if any man will not be ruled in this question, this is not our way of doing things, and it is not done in the churches of God.  

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  But in giving you this order, there is one thing about which I am not pleased: it is that when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.  

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  For first of all, it has come to my ears that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you, and I take the statement to be true in part.  

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  For divisions are necessary among you, in order that those who have God's approval may be clearly seen among you.  

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  But now, when you come together, it is not possible to take the holy meal of the Lord:  

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  For when you take your food, everyone takes his meal before the other; and one has not enough food, and another is the worse for drink.  

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  What? have you not houses to take your meals in? or have you no respect for the church of God, putting the poor to shame? What am I to say to you? am I to give you praise? certainly not.  

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  For it was handed down to me from the Lord, as I gave it to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when Judas was false to him, took bread,  

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  And when it had been broken with an act of praise, he said, This is my body which is for you: do this in memory of me.  

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  In the same way, with the cup, after the meal, he said, This cup is the new testament in my blood: do this, whenever you take it, in memory of me.  

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  For whenever you take the bread and the cup you give witness to the Lord's death till he comes.  

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  If, then, anyone takes the bread or the cup of the Lord in the wrong spirit, he will be responsible for the body and blood of the Lord.  

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  But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.  

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  For a man puts himself in danger, if he takes part in the holy meal without being conscious that it is the Lord's body.  

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  For this cause a number of you are feeble and ill, and a number are dead.  

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  But if we were true judges of ourselves, punishment would not come on us.  

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  But if punishment does come, it is sent by the Lord, so that we may be safe when the world is judged.  

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  So then, my brothers, when you come together to the holy meal of the Lord, let there be waiting for one another.  

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  If any man is in need of food, let him take his meal in his house; so that you may not come together to your damage. And the rest I will put in order when I come.  

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