English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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It pleases me that you continue to remember and honor me by keeping up the traditions of the faith I taught you. All actual authority stems from Christ.
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.
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3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
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In a marriage relationship, there is authority from Christ to husband, and from husband to wife. The authority of Christ is the authority of God.
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head,
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Any man who speaks with God or about God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of Christ, dishonors Christ.
5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
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In the same way, a wife who speaks with God in a way that shows a lack of respect for the authority of her husband, dishonors her husband.
6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.
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Worse, she dishonors herself - an ugly sight, like a woman with her head shaved. This is basically the origin of these customs we have of women wearing head coverings in worship, while men take their hats off. By these symbolic acts,
7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
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men and women, who far too often butt heads with each other, submit their "heads" to the Head: God.
8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
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9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
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10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
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Don't, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women.
11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;
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Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God - that is true. But the head on a woman's body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her "head," her husband.
12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.
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The first woman came from man, true - but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let's quit going through these "who's first" routines.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?
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Don't you agree there is something naturally powerful in the symbolism - a woman, her beautiful hair reminiscent of angels, praying in adoration; a man, his head bared in reverence, praying in submission?
14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him,
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15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
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16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
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I hope you're not going to be argumentative about this. All God's churches see it this way; I don't want you standing out as an exception.
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
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Regarding this next item, I'm not at all pleased. I am getting the picture that when you meet together it brings out your worst side instead of your best!
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,
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First, I get this report on your divisiveness, competing with and criticizing each other. I'm reluctant to believe it, but there it is.
19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
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The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will bring truth into the open and confirm it.
20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.
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And then I find that you bring your divisions to worship - you come together, and instead of eating the Lord's Supper,
21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
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you bring in a lot of food from the outside and make pigs of yourselves. Some are left out, and go home hungry. Others have to be carried out, too drunk to walk. I can't believe it!
22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
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Don't you have your own homes to eat and drink in? Why would you stoop to desecrating God's church? Why would you actually shame God's poor? I never would have believed you would stoop to this. And I'm not going to stand by and say nothing.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
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Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord's Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread.
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
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Having given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
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After supper, he did the same thing with the cup: This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
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What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
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Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of "remembrance" you want to be part of?
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
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Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
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If you give no thought (or worse, don't care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you're running the risk of serious consequences.
30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
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That's why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave.
31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
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If we get this straight now, we won't have to be straightened out later on.
32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
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Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another--
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So, my friends, when you come together to the Lord's Table, be reverent and courteous with one another.
34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home--so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
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If you're so hungry that you can't wait to be served, go home and get a sandwich. But by no means risk turning this Meal into an eating and drinking binge or a family squabble. It is a spiritual meal - a love feast. The other things you asked about, I'll respond to in person when I make my next visit.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.