Part 10

011:011 Yet, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man independent of woman.

011:012 For just as woman originates from man, so also man comes into existence through woman, but everything springs originally from God.

011:013 Judge of this for your own selves: is it seemly for a woman to pray to God when she is unveiled?

011:014 Does not Nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a dishonor to him,

011:015 but that if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because her hair was given her for a covering?

011:016 But if any one is inclined to be contentious on the point, we have no such custom, nor have the Churches of God.

011:017 But while giving you these instructions, there is one thing I cannot praise--your meeting together, with bad rather than good results.

011:018 for, in the first place, when you meet as a Church, there are divisions among you. This is what I am told, and I believe that there is some truth in it.

011:019 For there must of necessity be differences of opinion among you, in order that it may be plainly seen who are the men of sterling worth among you.

011:020 When, however, you meet in one place, there is no eating the Supper of the Lord;

011:021 for it is his own supper of which each of you is in a hurry to partake, and one eats like a hungry man, while another has already drunk to excess.

011:022 Why, have you no homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you wish to show your contempt for the Church of God and make those who have no homes feel ashamed? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this matter I certainly do not praise you.

011:023 For it was from the Lord that I received the facts which, in turn, I handed on to you; how that the Lord Jesus, on the night He was to be betrayed, took some bread,

011:024 and after giving thanks He broke it and said, "This is my body which is about to be broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

011:025 In the same way, when the meal was over, He also took the cup. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant of which my blood is the pledge. Do this, every time that you drink it, in memory of me."

011:026 For every time that you eat this bread and drink from the cup, you are proclaiming the Lord's death--until He returns.

011:027 Whoever, therefore, in an unworthy manner, eats the bread or drinks from the cup of the Lord sins against the body and blood of the Lord.

011:028 But let a man examine himself, and, having done that, then let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.

011:029 For any one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself, if he fails to estimate the body aright.

011:030 That is why many among you are sickly and out of health, and why not a few die.

011:031 If, however, we estimated ourselves aright, we should not be judged.

011:032 But when we are judged by the Lord, chastisement follows, to save us from being condemned along with the world.

011:033 Therefore, brethren, when you come together for this meal, wait for one another.

011:034 If any one is hungry, let him eat at home; so that your coming together may not lead to judgement. The other matters I will deal with whenever I come.

012:001 It is important, brethren, that you should have clear knowledge on the subject of spiritual gifts.

012:002 You know that when you were heathens you went astray after dumb idols, wherever you happened to be led.

012:003 For this reason I would have you understand that no one speaking under the influence of The Spirit of God ever says, "Jesus is accursed," and that no one is able to say, "Jesus is Lord," except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

012:004 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but there is one and the same Spirit;