If we talk about 1 Corinthians 11 in detail,
Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians is a letter from the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth that addresses issues related to worship within the church, especially the roles of men and women, the issue of head coverings, and instructions for the Lord's Supper. This chapter can be broadly divided into two parts.
1. Head coverings for men and women (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)
Paul addresses the issue of male and female head coverings during worship in the Corinthian church.
roles of men and women
- Men's Head : Men are the image and glory of God and should not cover their heads during worship.
- Women's Head : Women are the glory of men and must cover their heads during worship. This symbolizes that she is under the authority of a man.
- Interdependence : Man and woman are interdependent in the Lord. Woman comes from man, but man is born through woman. But everything comes from God.
natural symbol
- Natural Nature : Based on natural nature, Paul explains that a man's long hair is shame and a woman's long hair is glory. The woman's long hair serves as a covering.
church customs
- Church Tradition : Paul recommends following the church’s traditions and customs in this matter. It is said that all churches have the same customs, even if there is controversy.
2. Instructions for the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
Paul addresses the problem of the Lord's Supper not being celebrated properly within the Corinthian church.
The Problem of the Lord's Supper
- Divisions and factions : Rather than sharing the Lord's Supper together, the Corinthian church had divisions and factions. It was a situation where everyone ate their own food first, leaving hungry people and drunk people.
- Purpose of the Lord's Supper : The Lord's Supper commemorates the Lord's death, remembers his sacrifice, and awaits his second coming. Paul conveys the revelation he received from the Lord and explains the proper meaning and procedure of the Lord's Supper.
Procedure of the Lord's Supper
- Bread and cup : On the night he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
- Proclaiming the Lord’s death : Every time we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes.
examine yourself
- Self-examination : In order to properly participate in the Lord's Supper, we must first examine ourselves. Anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body of the Lord is eating and drinking his own sin.
- Judgment and Discipline : If you participate in the Lord's Supper unworthily, you may be judged by God. Paul explains that this is why many people in the Corinthian church were weak and sick, and some died.
- Waiting and consideration : When sharing the Lord's Supper together, we must wait and be considerate of one another. We recommend that hungry people eat at home first and be considerate of others and share at gatherings.
summary
Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians addresses the issue of head coverings for men and women, instructions for the Lord's Supper, and presents Paul's teachings on issues related to worship within the church. Paul explains the roles and interdependence of men and women and emphasizes the proper procedure and meaning of the Lord's Supper. Through these teachings, the importance of church order and worship is emphasized.