Paul’s First Letter to
the Corinthians: DAY 14
READ 1 Corinthians
11:2-34
In your journal, write
down the things that stick out to you from today’s Bible reading. Respond to
what God shows you as you feel led.
The first portion of chapter 11 has much cultural context
that is not shared by our culture today. Some Roman men would cover their heads
while worshiping pagan gods, and so the heart behind Paul’s point in verse 4 is
that the Christian men steer clear of this practice. As for verses 5-6: in
Corinthian culture, if a woman’s head was uncovered, it was likely a sign of
being unmarried; thus, if a married woman worshiped publically with her head
uncovered, it was a disgrace to her husband. Paul’s further words in this
section should not lead anyone to believe that women are unimportant or beneath
men. He does not deny the explicit truth in Genesis that man and women are both
created in God’s image; rather, he exalts women, pointing that through the
excellence of her being she also shows how excellent man is, since she was
created out of man in the beginning. (v 7-8)
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1.
The topic of women in the Bible has
caused much resentment, especially among unbelievers, but the issue also
troubles many Christians. Too often we skim over the passages and verses that
do not make sense to us, and we take on a biased opinion because of our
unwillingness to study the Scriptures. Are you guilty of this? Are there some
passages you ignore because they seem to confusing? How can you change the way
that you read the Bible so that you can gain greater understanding?
2.
Meditate on verses 23-29, which talk of
the Lord’s Supper and the proper way to go about taking it. Think about the
practice of Communion – what it represents and why we do it. Is it something
you think about often or occasionally, or is it just a routine you go through
at Prayer Summits or Easter? Ask God to speak to you through these verses. Ask
Him to bring you to a place of worship through them.
