1 Corinthians Week 24

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:7-8 

⁷ A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. ⁸ For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 

There is no reason to debate this passage because of its clarity. Man reflects God’s glory and the woman reflects man’s glory. The only debate would come from those who believe in evolution instead of creation. This means also those who disagree would need to deny the creation account in Genesis is the true word of God. That is a far bigger problem than the issue in this passage. 

REFLECT 

Whether you are male or female, do you realize this passage applies to you? 

RESPOND 

Take the time with a friend to read the accounts in Genesis that tell of the creation of the man and woman. See Genesis 1:26-27 and Genesis 2:21-23. It is considered that Genesis 2 gives more details about the creation account in Genesis 1. 

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:9-10 

⁹ And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. ¹⁰ For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority. 

Paul referred to the angels watching mankind. There are questions about whether those in heaven now are watching those yet living on earth. The Bible is not clear on that. But it is clear that the angels watch those on earth. Paul indicated the woman wearing a sign of authority on her head was a witness to the angels. 

REFLECT 

Is it a new concept to you to realize the angels are watching you? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the ministry of angels now. See Hebrews 1:6, 7, 14. Some speak of loved ones being taken to heaven by angels. Luke 16:22 indicates angels carried the poor man to Abraham’s side, likely another name for heaven. 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 

¹¹ But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. ¹² For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God. 

Paul revealed how both men and women are dependent on one another. The first woman came from Adam but all men since then have come from women. Paul added that “everything comes from God.” It is God’s plan. No man should think he is independent from a woman, and no woman should think she is independent from a man.  

REFLECT 

Do you recognize that your gender is in the plan of God? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the idea being propagated in the world that there are more than two genders. Such thinking disregards what God has done. Those espousing such false views are setting themselves up as God to decide what is right and wrong. Read Romans 1:18-32 to see what God does to such people and allows them to do. 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:13-14 

¹³ Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? ¹⁴ Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 

Paul returns to talking about the custom of his day. Even verse 14 has caused debate. How long is long? There seems to be a basic principle that men should not try to look like women, and women should not try to look like men.  

REFLECT 

Do you seek to look like your gender? In what ways do you do this? 

RESPOND 

With a friend read 1 Timothy 2:9-10. In this passage Paul instructed Timothy, a pastor, how women should adorn themselves for worship. He appealed for inner beauty and attracting others by their good works.  

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:15-16 

¹⁵ And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches. 

Most would agree that a woman’s hair is her pride and joy. It has been said of women in nursing homes that when a woman does not want her hair fixed, she is in serious decline. Paul refused to argue about this custom and said it was the only one in the other churches. 

REFLECT 

Is this an important issue in the church you attend? Do people express their differences with love? 

RESPOND 

Paul is building toward 1 Corinthians 13, which is the great love chapter in the Bible. Regardless of how believers think about a problem, if is not some doctrinal issue that has to do with eternal life, the topic should be handled with love while seeking to understand the other person’s thoughts.