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The Testimony of Yeshua
1 Corinthians 11-16 (The Gabriel Version)
“Her Hair is Given to Her For a Covering”
2 Now I commend you Friends for remembering me in everything, and for retaining the instructions precisely as I taught them to you.
3 I want you to know that the head of every man is the Messiah, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of the Messiah is Yehovah. 4 Every man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 Every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head because she is just like someone whose head is shaved. 6 If a woman isn’t covered [see v.15] she should be sheared, but if it is shameful for a woman to be sheared or shaved, she should be covered. 7 Indeed, the man should not veil his head because he is the image and magnificence of Yehovah, but the woman is the magnificence of the man. 8 The man didn’t come from the woman, but the woman from the man. 9 Nor was the man created for the woman’s sake, but the woman for the man’s sake. 10 This is why a woman should have power/authority [Aramaic Shultono] on her head, because of the spirit messengers.
11 Nevertheless, the man isn’t independent of the woman, nor is the woman independent of the man, in Yehovah. 12 Just as the woman was from a man, so men are here because of women, and everything is from Yehovah. 13 Judge for yourselves, is it becoming for a woman to pray to Yehovah with her head uncovered? 14 And doesn’t nature teach you that if a man’s hair grows long it dishonors him? 15 But when a woman has long hair it is beautiful, since her hair was given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone wants to dispute these things, we don’t have an established custom, nor does the assembly of Aloha [1].
17 But giving these instructions isn’t to praise you, because you haven’t made any progress—you’ve deteriorated! 18 First of all, when you gather as a assembly, I hear that there are divisions among you, and this is destined to happen. 19 Of course there must be sects [heresies] among you, so that those of you who are genuine can be recognized. 20 When you gather together, you eat and drink inappropriately for the Messiah’s Day [2]. 21 Because some of you eat your supper too soon, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What! Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the assembly of Aloha and shame those who have nothing? What should I tell you? I certainly won’t commend you for this!
23 I have received from our Master the same thing that I relayed to you, that our Master Yeshua (Jesus), on the night He was betrayed, took a loaf of bread [3], 24 and blessed and broke it, and said, “Take this and eat it, this is My body that is broken for you, do this to remember Me by.” 25 So, after they had eaten it, He then took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, do this, as often as you drink it, to remember Me by.” 26 Every time you eat this loaf of bread and drink from this cup, you commemorate the death of our Master UNTIL He returns [4].
27 So anyone who eats the Master’s bread and drinks from His cup who isn’t worthy of it is guilty of the blood of the Master and of His body. 28 “But scrutinize yourselves! Each of you should scrutinize your own genuineness before eating this bread and drinking from this cup, 29 because anyone who eats and drinks from it unworthily, eats and drinks condemnation on themselves by not discerning the Master’s body. 30 This is why many of you are diseased and sickly and many have died. 31 If we judge ourselves, we won’t be summoned for judgment. 32 But when we’re judged by our Master, we’re being chastised so that we won’t be condemned with the world.
33 So Friends, when you gather to eat, wait for each other. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat at home so that you won’t gather for condemnation. As for the other issues, I’ll resolve them when I come.
[1][1] An alternative explanation of the intent of verses 2-16 can be found here. [2] The Greek says “supper” rather than “day”. [3] Thayer’s Lexicon counts: “bread (71), loaf (2), loaves (23), meal (1).” Strong’s is brief but to the point: “bread, loaf. From airo; bread (as raised) or a loaf -- (shew-)bread, loaf.” As opposed to the unleavened bread (azumos) that is used the following night at Passover. [4] While the “Lord’s Supper” will not be commemorated after He returns, the Passover will be celebrated, as prophesied in Ezekiel 45:21, a millennial reign chapter, as will the Feast of Tabernacles, as prophesied in the very evident millennial chapter of Zechariah 14, verses 16-21 in particular. See Did Yeshua’s Supper” Replace the Passover?
Spiritual Gifts
4 Now there are different gifts for different people, but only one spirit. 5 There are different ways of serving [Gr. diakonia], but only one Master. 6 There are distinctive types of work, but Yehovah produces everything in everyone.
7 Everyone of us has seen the results of the spirit, bringing it all together. 8 To one the spirit gives wisdom in their speech, and to another the same spirit gives knowledgeable speech, 9 to another the same spirit gives faith, to another the same spirit gives the gift of healing, 10 and to another miracles, another prophecy, another can distinguish between spirits, another speaks various languages, and another can interpret languages. 11 But one spirit does all of these things and she [1] distributes to everyone as she determines.
All One Body
12 Just as a body has many parts, and all of the many parts of the body still form a single body, so it is with the Messiah. 13 Similarly, all of us have been immersed into one body by one spirit, whether Jews or Arameans, whether slaves or free, and we were all allowed a drink into one spirit.
14 The body isn’t one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body”, would that make it any less a part of the body 16 If the ear says, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body, is it because of that not part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would it hear? If it were all ears, how could it smell? 18 But as it is, Yehovah has placed every part of the body where He wants it. 19 If we were all one part, how could we have a body? 20 But now we’re many parts, but still one body.
21 The eye can’t say to the hand, you aren’t needed, and the head can’t say to the feet, you aren’t needed [2]. 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. 23 The members of the body that we regard as less honorable are given more honor, and the unpresentable members are indispensable. 24 Our shapely members have no need of honor, because Yehovah has created a structure, a body, and given more honor to the part that is “inferior”, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, and every part should have equal concern for the other parts. 26 This way, when one part is in pain, every member sympathizes, and if another part is praised, every part is praised.
27 Now you are the body of the Messiah, each member is one of the constituent parts of a whole. 28 Yehovah has placed in His assembly, first envoys, after them prophets, after them teachers, then miracle workers, after them some with the gift of healing, helpers, leaders [3], and those who speak the languages of various nations. 29 Are they all envoys? Are they all prophets of the Scriptures? Are they all teachers? Are they all miracle workers? 30 Do they all have the gift of healing? Do they all speak in various languages? Or do they all interpret? 31 On the other hand, if you want to pursue the superior gifts, I’ll show you a more excellent way.
[1] Aramaic assigns gender to inanimate objects etc, as many languages do. The 'special' (holy) spirit is feminine in Aramaic and Hebrew. In Greek, “autos” can be translated as “he, she or it”. Trinitarians opt for “He”. [2] When a “minister” banishes a “hand” or a “foot”, is that “minister” really part of the body? [3] If this is a pecking order then “leaders” are way down the list.
The Love Chapter
4 Love perseveres patiently and is kind, love doesn’t burn with envy, love doesn’t boast, it’s not conceited 5 and doesn’t act unbecomingly, doesn’t seek its own way, it’s not easily provoked, and doesn’t have a bad nature. 6 It finds no pleasure in violating the Torah, but rejoices with others in the truth. 7 It endures every threat, and is persuaded of every conviction, with limitless hope and perseverance.
8 Love will never end. But prophesying will come to an end, and language will no longer stir us, and some knowledge will vanish. 9 We have limited knowledge, and our prophecy has limits. 10 But when everything is finished, then the limitations will vanish. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I reasoned like a child, and I thought like a child, but when I became a man I was finished with the things of childhood. 12 We now see as if in a hazy mirror, but in the future we’ll see Them face to face. Presently what I know is incomplete, but in the future I’ll have thoro knowledge, just like Yehovah has thoro knowledge of me.
13 For these three things will never change: faith, expectation [hope], and love, but the greatest of these is love.
The Gift of Languages
6 Now, Friends, if I were to come to you speaking in other languages, how would I benefit you unless I spoke to you of some truth new to you, or advanced knowledge, prophecy or doctrine? 7 Even inanimate things that emit sounds such as a pipe or a harp, if they don’t make distinctive sounds, how can we determine what is being played? 8 If a shofar produces an obscure sound, who would prepare himself for battle? 9 In a similar way, if you speak in a foreign language without interpretation, how will anyone know what you said? You’ll just be blowing into the air. 10 Of course there are many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them are insignificant. 11 Yet if I don’t understand the language, I’ll seem like a barbarian to the speaker, and the speaker will seem like a barbarian to me. 12 Similarly, since you’re zealous for the spiritual gifts to build the assembly, strive to excel in them.
13 The person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to translate. 14 If I were to pray in a foreign language, my spirit would pray but my mind wouldn’t benefit. 15 So what should I do? I’ll pray with my spirit, but I’ll also pray with my understanding, and I’ll sing with my spirit, but I’ll also sing psalms with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise in the spirit, how could someone ‘from an outsider’s viewpoint’ say say “Aw-main” to your giving of thanks, because they don’t understand what you said? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but the other people aren’t benefiting.
18 I thank Yehovah that I speak in foreign languages more than any of you. 19 But in an assembly, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a foreign language.
20 Friends, don’t be childish in your thoughts, but when it comes to evil, be like children, and in your thoughts be mature. 21 In the Torah it says, “Foreign oppressors will speak to this nation in another language and they still won’t listen to Me, says Yehovah [Isaiah 28:11-12].”
22 So instantaneously learning a language is a miracle, not for the believer, but for the unbeliever. But prophecy isn’t for the unbeliever, but for the believer. 23 So if the whole assembly gathers, and they are all speaking with foreign languages and “new” people come in or those who don’t believe, won’t they say, “These people are crazy?” 24 But if you are all prophesying and “new” people or unbelievers come among you, they’ll be convicted after examining everything that happens. 25 What had been hidden from their minds is no longer hidden from them, then they’ll fall face down and worship Yehovah and say, “Yehovah is truly among you.”
When You Assemble
26 So I tell you Friends, that when you assemble, whoever has a psalm should speak, as well as anyone who has a doctrine, and whoever has a revelation, and whoever has a foreign language, and whoever can interpret. Every type of thing should be done to build us up. 27 If anyone speaks in a foreign language, two should speak or at most three, and they should speak in succession and have someone to interpret. 28 If there is no one to interpret the language, they should remain silent in the assembly and speak in privacy to Yehovah.
29 As for prophets [i.e. inspired speakers], two to three should speak, and afterward the others should evaluate [1]. 30 If someone else sitting there can disclose a point that was previously unknown, then the one [2] speaking should be kept in silence for a time. 31 You can all take your turn prophesying, so that everyone can learn by practice. Everyone can give and receive consolation and encouragement. 32 You see, the rational spirit of the prophets cooperates with other prophets. 33 Yehovah isn’t the author of confusion, but of peace, as in every assembly of the 'special ones' [saints]. 34 “Your women should remain silent in public gatherings. They aren’t allowed to speak out, they must be submissive, as the Roman law [3] says. 35 If women want to be informed about any subject, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is unbecoming for women to speak in a gathering” [4]. 36 What! Did the Word of Aloha originate with you? Are you Corinthians the only people it has reached?
37 If any of you think that you are a prophet or that you are spiritual, then you should acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the Commandments of Yehovah. 38 If anyone is ignorant of this, disregard him.
39 So Friends, desire the ability to prophesy, and don’t forbid anyone from speaking in foreign languages. 40 But everything should be done with decency and in regular succession.
[1] Father Demands Freedom of Speech! [2] While “protos” is usually translated as “first”, it is established in the previous verse that there should be two to three speaking. So one of the speakers on that particular Sabbath would be required to “be kept in silence” if another person believed that rendering his judgment, after the person currently speaking was finished might be to late. This appears to refer to a course correction. Of course a too late. This appears to be a course correction. Of course a “one man show” giving a sermon would never allow this. See The Bible Never Mentions Sermons [3] The Torah has no such law. [4] In verses 34 and 35, Paul is sarcastically quoting what he heard from a Corinthian “brother”, just before blasting the idea in verse 36. If ancient languages had quotation marks, the controversy surrounding vs 34-35 wouldn’t exist. “The Cultural Background: The writings of Greek philosophers provide external documentation informing us of the mindset that permeated the ancient city of Corinth. In Greek society, women were clearly held in low regard. For example, Plato (424-347 BC) ascribed to the inferior status of women by stating: “It is only males who are created directly by the gods and are given souls.” Aristotle (384-322 BC) added, “women are defective by nature” because “a woman is as it were an infertile male,” and males command superior intelligence.’ Under existing Roman family law, the father had complete household authority. A husband could punish his wife in any way including killing her, and he could make love to other women with impunity.” Compare to 1 Corinthians 11:4.
3 I delivered to you the primary teachings that I was given, that the Messiah died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried and that He was resurrected on the third day, according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, and afterward by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by more than five hundred Friends at once, many of them still alive, yet some of them have died. 7 Then James saw Him, and later all of the other envoys. 8 Last of all, I saw Him, as if I were born prematurly [stunted].
9 I’m the least of the envoys. I’m not even worthy of being called an envoy because I persecuted the assembly of Aloha. 10 But by Yehovah’s compassion I am what I am, and His compassion toward me didn’t prove to be wasted, because I worked even more than all the others,—yet not I, but the compassion of Yehovah that was with me. 11 So whether it was I or someone else, this is what we announced and what you believed.
The Resurrections
12 Now if we announce that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, why do some of you claim that there’s no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead then the Messiah hasn’t been resurrected. 14 If the Messiah hasn’t been resurrected then our heralding is worthless and your faith means nothing. 15 Also, we would even be proven to be false witnesses about Yehovah, because we testified on Yehovah’s behalf that He raised the Messiah, if in fact the dead aren’t resurrected. 16 If the dead don’t rise, then the Messiah hasn’t risen either. 17 If the Messiah hasn’t been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still without hope in your sins. 18 And no doubt those who have already died in the Messiah have been destroyed. 19 If our hope in the Messiah is for this lifetime only, then we’re the most miserable people in the world!
20 But now the Messiah has risen from the dead and has become the first person born [1a] from the dead. 21 Since one man brought about death, so another man brought about the resurrection of the dead. 22 Everyone dies because of Adam, but in contrast, because of the Messiah, everyone will be restored to Life, 23 but everyone in their order, Messiah was the firstfruit [1b]. Later, at His [2] coming, those who are the Messiah’s [will be restored to life]. 24 Then the end of these events [3] comes, when He’ll have handed over the Kingdom to Yehovah the Father, when every ruler and every government and every powerful force will have been overthrown. 25 For ‘Yeshua’ must rule until He vanquishes all of His enemies. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 He has put everything under ‘Yeshua’s’ command. But when He said that everything is under His command, this certainly excludes the One who authorized Him. 28 Now when everything is under His command, then the Son Himself will yield the command to the One who authorized Him, so that Yehovah will be ‘absolutely supreme’.
29 Otherwise, what will the people do who are immersed for the sake of the dead, if the dead don’t rise? Why are they immersed for the dead? 30 And why are we continually being endangered? 31 Friends, I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what our Master Yeshua Messiah has done in you. 32 If, as people reason, I was thrown to wild animals in Ephesus [4], what would I gain if the dead don’t rise? “Let’s eat and drink because tomorrow we die.”
33 Don’t be deceived, “Evil communication corrupts good minds.” 34 You should be sober minded and righteous, not wandering from righteousness. There are some of you who don’t know Yehovah. I say this to your shame!
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? And what kind of body will they return with?” 36 Foolish man! The seed you sow won’t germinate unless it dies first. 37 What you sow isn’t the body that will be, but a naked seed of wheat or barley or another grain. 38 Yehovah furnishes the body He intended. Each seed produces its own body. 39 Not every body is alike. People have one kind of body, animals have another, birds have another, and fish have yet another. 40 There are bodies in the Heavenly realm and in the terrestrial, but the splendor of the celestial ones is one thing, and the earthly ones is another. 41 The magnitude of the sun is unique, as is the brightness of the moon and the stars. Each star differs from the other stars in apparent magnitude [5].
42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, but what is raised will never decay. 43 They are sown in dishonor, they rise in brightness, they are sown in weakness, they’ll rise in power, 44 it is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a physical body and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so is it written: “Adam, the first man, came into existence as a mortal soul.” [6] The second Adam became a Spirit who restores Life. 46 The spiritual isn’t first, but the physical and then the spiritual. 47 The first man came from the dust of the earth, the second man was the Master from the Heavens. 48 Just as Adam’s kind was made of earth, so the others of his kind are made of earthly material, and just as ‘Yeshua’ is, who is from in the Heavenly realm, that is how the Heavenly realm is [7]. 49 As we have borne the likeness of the man made of earth, we’ll also bear the likeness of the One from the Heavenly realm.
We Won’t All Die
50 Friends, I tell you that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of the Heavens, nor can the perishable inherit perpetuity. 51 See, I’ll explain a mystery to you, we won’t all die, but we’ll all be transformed! 52 In the smallest possible fraction of a second [Gr. atomos], while the last [seventh] shofar [8] is sounding, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be transformed! 53 This perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 So when this perishable is clothed with the imperishable, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, THAT IS WHEN the written Word will be accomplished: “Death is devoured in victory. 55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?”
56 Now the sting of death is sin and the moral power of sin is the Torah. 57 But thankfully, the compassion of Yehovah gives us the victory thru our Master Yeshua Messiah.
58 So dear Friends, be steadfastly immovable and always prolific in the work of the Master, since you know that your harsh work isn’t in vain in the Master.
[1a,b] “Firstborn” is the exact equivalent of “firstfruit” as used in the Tanak, and can just as easily be translated as “firstborn” (firstling), since we aren’t picked from trees. [2] Or this could be translated as “Their coming”. [3] “The end” of the age, the sixth millennium, is mentioned several times in Daniel 11 and 12 and Matthew 24. The end of the fourth age is mentioned in Hebrews 9:26. [4] The Greek says: “if I have fought with wild animals.” [5] The point is that in the Everlasting Kingdom we will all be unique individuals with varying degrees of “brightness”! [6] See Ezekiel 18:4,20. [7] We will be like the messengers, see Matthew 22:30. [8] See Revelation 8:6.
The “Sunday Morning” Collection?
5 I’ll come to you when I travel thru Macedonia since I’m about to pass thru Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I’ll stay with you awhile, or winter with you so that you can accompany me to my destination. 7 I’ve decided not to see you now, just passing thru, because I hope to spend some time with you if Yehovah permits me. 8 I’ll remain in Ephesus until Pentecost 9 because a great door has opened for me that is full of opportunities, but there are many adversaries.
10 If Timothy comes to you, see that he has nothing to worry about while with you, because he does the work of Yehovah, just as I do. 11 No one should despise him, but send him on his journey in peace so that he can accompany me, because I’m waiting for him with our Friends.
12 Friends, concerning Apollos, I begged him and the Friends to visit with you, but he decided not to visit now, but when he has an opportunity he’ll visit you.
13 Watch and stand firm in the faith, be brave, be valiant. 14 Everything that you do should be done with love.
15 Friends, you know that the members of the family of Stephanas were the first ‘converts’ in Achaia, and that they’ve dedicated themselves to serving the 'special ones', and I urge you 16 to heed [1] such people, and anyone who labors with us and helps us. 17 I rejoice at the arrival of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they’ve made up for what you were deficient in. 18 They’ve refreshed my spirit and yours. Give recognition to such men.
19 All the assemblies in Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla ‘send their’ greetings in the Master, as does the assembly in their house. 20 All the friends greet you. Greet one another with a kiss “of Friendship”. 21 This greeting is from me, Paul, in my own hand writing. 22 Whoever doesn’t love our Master Yeshua Messiah is rotten meat [2]. Our Master will come [3]! 23 May the compassion of our Master Yeshua Messiah be with you. 24 I love you all, in the Messiah, Yeshua. Aw-main.
[1] The Greek says “obey”. [2] An opportunity to love Yeshua is implied. Paul was certainly providing that opportunity. [3] Maranatha is Aramaic for, “our Master will come”.
End of the first letter to the Corinthians that was written in Philippi of Macedonia, and sent by Timothy.
2 CORINTHIANS is here.
Compare the Testimony of Yeshua Version of this book with the 1851 Murdock or the 1849 Etheridge Versions of “The Testimony of Yeshua” (New Testament).
