independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionaldashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The hinge and the traditions 11:1–2
1
μιμηταί μου γίνεσθε,independent — the hinge — capping 10:23–11:1 and opening what follows
καθὼς κἀγὼ Χριστοῦ.comparative — elliptical — Paul's imitation itself derivative
2
Ἐπαινῶ δὲ ὑμᾶςindependent — the praise granted — withheld at vv. 17, 22
ὅτι πάντα μου μέμνησθεcause — the first ground — settled remembrance (perfect)
καὶ καθὼς παρέδωκα ὑμῖνcomparative — fronted comparative — leans on κατέχετε below; παρέδωκα anticipates v. 23
τὰς παραδόσεις κατέχετε.cause — the second ground — the παραδόσεις kept
Headship and the covered head 11:3–16
vv. 3–6 — the κεφαλή triad and the shame arguments
3
θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναιindependent — the disclosure formula — the premise laid down
ὅτι παντὸς ἀνδρὸς ἡ κεφαλὴ ὁ Χριστός ἐστιν,content — the triad, first limb — κεφαλή: 'head', sense debated (authority / source)
κεφαλὴ δὲ γυναικὸς ὁ ἀνήρ,content — second limb — copula gapped
κεφαλὴ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ θεός.content — third limb — even Christ has a head: ordered relation, not inferiority
4
πᾶς ἀνὴρ προσευχόμενος ἢ προφητεύωνparticipial — fronted participial subject — leans on καταισχύνει below
κατὰ κεφαλῆς ἔχωνparticipial — the offending manner — κατὰ κεφαλῆς, a covering hanging down
καταισχύνει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ.independent — gnomic verdict — κεφαλή double-edged: his own head and his Head, Christ
5
πᾶσα δὲ γυνὴ προσευχομένη ἢ προφητεύουσα ἀκατακαλύπτῳ τῇ κεφαλῇparticipial — the mirror case — women's praying and prophesying assumed, the manner at issue
καταισχύνει τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῆς·independent — the same verdict — her own head and her head, the man
ἓν γάρ ἐστιν καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ τῇ ἐξυρημένῃ.cause — the cultural equation — uncovered equals shorn
6
εἰ γὰρ οὐ κατακαλύπτεται γυνή,conditional — protasis — leans on the imperative below
καὶ κειράσθω·independent — the reductio — go all the way
εἰ δὲ αἰσχρὸν γυναικὶ τὸ κείρασθαι ἢ ξυρᾶσθαι,conditional — the second protasis — the shame conceded, copula gapped
κατακαλυπτέσθω.independent — the resolving imperative
vv. 7–12 — creation order, and its mutual qualification
7
ἀνὴρ μὲν γὰρ οὐκ ὀφείλει κατακαλύπτεσθαι τὴν κεφαλήν,independent — the grounding shifts to Genesis — μέν anticipating the δέ below
εἰκὼν καὶ δόξα θεοῦ ὑπάρχων·participial — causal participle — Gen 1:26–27
ἡ γυνὴ δὲ δόξα ἀνδρός ἐστιν.independent — the δέ limb — glory of man, pointedly not 'image of man'
8
οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἀνὴρ ἐκ γυναικός,cause — ground from origin — Gen 2: ἐκ, 'from'
ἀλλὰ γυνὴ ἐξ ἀνδρός·cause — the counter-limb — verb gapped
9
καὶ γὰρ οὐκ ἐκτίσθη ἀνὴρ διὰ τὴν γυναῖκα,cause — ground from purpose — καὶ γάρ, Gen 2:18
ἀλλὰ γυνὴ διὰ τὸν ἄνδρα.cause — the counter-limb — verb gapped
10
διὰ τοῦτο ὀφείλει ἡ γυνὴ ἐξουσίαν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆςindependent — the famously dense conclusion — ἐξουσίαν read as her own authority to pray and prophesy, not a sign of another's
διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους.cause — διά + acc ground — left as terse as Paul left it; likely the angels attending worship's order
11
πλὴν οὔτε γυνὴ χωρὶς ἀνδρὸς οὔτε ἀνὴρ χωρὶς γυναικὸς ἐν κυρίῳ·independent — πλήν — the correction: mutual interdependence in the Lord, verbless
12
ὥσπερ γὰρ ἡ γυνὴ ἐκ τοῦ ἀνδρός,comparative — fronted comparative — leans on the clause below; verb gapped
οὕτως καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ διὰ τῆς γυναικός·cause — the balance — ἐκ answered by διά: every man born through a woman
τὰ δὲ πάντα ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ.cause — the relativizing close — God the source of both
vv. 13–16 — propriety, nature, and the churches' custom
13
ἐν ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς κρίνατε·independent — the appeal to their own judgment
πρέπον ἐστὶν γυναῖκα ἀκατακάλυπτον τῷ θεῷ προσεύχεσθαι;content — the matter to judge — πρέπον, the instinct of fittingness; expects 'no'
14
οὐδὲ ἡ φύσις αὐτὴ διδάσκει ὑμᾶςindependent — the second question — οὐδέ expects 'yes, it does'
ὅτι ἀνὴρ μὲν ἐὰν κομᾷ ἀτιμία αὐτῷ ἐστιν,content — nature's lesson, male limb — with the ἐάν protasis internal
15
γυνὴ δὲ ἐὰν κομᾷ δόξα αὐτῇ ἐστιν;content — the female limb — δόξα, the keyword of vv. 7–8 again
ὅτι ἡ κόμη ἀντὶ περιβολαίου δέδοται αὐτῇ.cause — the reason — hair the natural analogue of the covering, a divine-passive gift
16
Εἰ δέ τις δοκεῖ φιλόνεικος εἶναι,conditional — protasis — leans on the settlement below
ἡμεῖς τοιαύτην συνήθειαν οὐκ ἔχομεν,independent — the apostolic settlement — dispute foreclosed
οὐδὲ αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τοῦ θεοῦ.independent — the catholic precedent — verb gapped
The Lord's Supper abused 11:17–22
vv. 17–19 — no praise: the report of divisions
17
Τοῦτο δὲ παραγγέλλωνparticipial — sentence-opening participle — leans on the verdict below
οὐκ ἐπαινῶindependent — the praise of v. 2 withheld — the chapter's frame turns
ὅτι οὐκ εἰς τὸ κρεῖσσον ἀλλὰ εἰς τὸ ἧσσον συνέρχεσθε.cause — the reason — συνέρχομαι, the section's keyword, damaged assemblies
18
πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ συνερχομένων ὑμῶν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳparticipial — genitive absolute, connectives fronted — μέν solitarium, no δέ answers
ἀκούωindependent — the report reaches Paul (cf. 1:11)
σχίσματα ἐν ὑμῖν ὑπάρχειν,content — indirect discourse — σχίσματα, the word of 1:10
καὶ μέρος τι πιστεύω.independent — the measured concession
19
δεῖ γὰρ καὶ αἱρέσεις ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι,cause — why he credits it — the quasi-eschatological δεῖ
ἵνα καὶ οἱ δόκιμοι φανεροὶ γένωνται ἐν ὑμῖν.purpose — the providential design — οἱ δόκιμοι disclosed by the sifting (cf. δοκιμαζέτω, v. 28)
vv. 20–22 — not the Lord's Supper: the indignant questions
20
Συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸparticipial — genitive absolute — leans on the indictment below
οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν·independent — the indictment — κυριακὸν δεῖπνον, the NT's only 'Lord's Supper'
21
ἕκαστος γὰρ τὸ ἴδιον δεῖπνον προλαμβάνει ἐν τῷ φαγεῖν,cause — the reason — ἕκαστος and τὸ ἴδιον against the common meal; προλαμβάνει answered at v. 33
καὶ ὃς μὲν πεινᾷ, ὃς δὲ μεθύει.cause — the ὃς μέν … ὃς δέ pair — the social rift at the table
22
μὴ γὰρ οἰκίας οὐκ ἔχετε εἰς τὸ ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν;independent — the diatribe volley opens — μή expects 'surely you do'
ἢ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε,independent — the alternative sharpened — contempt for God's assembly
καὶ καταισχύνετε τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας;independent — the shame-verb of vv. 4–5 — now the poor are shamed
τί εἴπω ὑμῖν;independent — deliberative subjunctive
ἐπαινέσω ὑμᾶς;independent — the verb of v. 2 posed as a question
ἐν τούτῳ οὐκ ἐπαινῶ.independent — the verdict — the inclusio with v. 17 sealed
The institution narrative 11:23–26
vv. 23–25 — the received tradition: bread and cup
23
ἐγὼ γὰρ παρέλαβον ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίουindependent — the corrective tradition — the technical παρέλαβον (cf. 15:3), traced to the Lord
ὃ καὶ παρέδωκα ὑμῖν,relative — on the thing received — παρέδωκα, the verb of v. 2
ὅτι ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ᾗ παρεδίδετο ἔλαβεν ἄρτονcontent — the tradition's content — παρεδίδετο/παρέδωκα wordplay: handed on, on the night he was handed over
24
καὶ εὐχαριστήσας ἔκλασενcontent — the actions continue — εὐχαριστήσας, whence 'Eucharist'
καὶ εἶπεν·content — the verb of saying — carrying the words of institution
Τοῦτό μού ἐστιν τὸ σῶμα τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν·content — the bread-word — ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, the vicarious self-gift (later witnesses add κλώμενον)
τοῦτο ποιεῖτε εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν.content — the memorial command — present imperative: a repeated rite, not a single act
25
ὡσαύτως καὶ τὸ ποτήριον μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι,content — the cup — 'took' gapped; μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι, after the meal proper
λέγων·participial — the participle of saying — carrying the cup-word
Τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ ἐμῷ αἵματι·content — the cup-word — Jer 31:31 and Exod 24:8: the promised covenant ratified in blood
τοῦτο ποιεῖτε,content — the memorial command repeated
ὁσάκις ἐὰν πίνητε,conditional — ὁσάκις ἐάν — indefinite recurrence built into the command
εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν.purpose — the εἰς-phrase of purpose — ἀνάμνησις, covenantal memorial
v. 26 — Paul's gloss: the meal as proclamation
26
ὁσάκις γὰρ ἐὰν ἐσθίητε τὸν ἄρτον τοῦτονconditional — protasis — leans on the apodosis below
καὶ τὸ ποτήριον πίνητε,conditional — the protasis's second limb
τὸν θάνατον τοῦ κυρίου καταγγέλλετε,independent — the interpretation — καταγγέλλετε indicative: the Supper itself preaches the cross
ἄχρι οὗ ἔλθῃ.conditional — ἄχρι οὗ + subjunctive — the eschatological terminus: back to the cross, forward to the parousia
Worthy participation and the Lord's discipline 11:27–34
vv. 27–32 — examine yourself: judgment now, that not condemnation then
27
Ὥστε ὃς ἂν ἐσθίῃ τὸν ἄρτον ἢ πίνῃ τὸ ποτήριον τοῦ κυρίου ἀναξίως,relative — conditional relative — leans on the apodosis below; ἀναξίως an adverb: the manner, not the person
ἔνοχος ἔσται τοῦ σώματος καὶ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ κυρίου.independent — the liability — ἔνοχος + genitive, answerable for what the meal proclaims
28
δοκιμαζέτω δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἑαυτόν,independent — the remedy — δοκιμαζέτω, cognate with οἱ δόκιμοι (v. 19)
καὶ οὕτως ἐκ τοῦ ἄρτου ἐσθιέτωindependent — οὕτως — examined, then partaking: not abstention
καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου πινέτω·independent — the coordinate command
29
ὁ γὰρ ἐσθίων καὶ πίνων κρίμα ἑαυτῷ ἐσθίει καὶ πίνειcause — the ground of the whole command (v. 28) — κρίμα, chastening judgment (v. 32), critical text without ἀναξίως
μὴ διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα.participial — conditional participle — τὸ σῶμα deliberately double: the Lord's body in the meal, the church-body shamed at it
30
διὰ τοῦτο ἐν ὑμῖν πολλοὶ ἀσθενεῖς καὶ ἄρρωστοιindependent — the verdict read off the community — copula gapped
καὶ κοιμῶνται ἱκανοί.independent — κοιμῶνται — the believers' euphemism: discipline, not damnation
31
εἰ δὲ ἑαυτοὺς διεκρίνομεν,conditional — contrary-to-fact protasis — διεκρίνομεν, the verb of v. 29 turned inward
οὐκ ἂν ἐκρινόμεθα·independent — the unreal apodosis — self-judgment forestalls the Lord's
32
κρινόμενοι δὲ ὑπὸ τοῦ κυρίουparticipial — sentence-opening participle — leans on παιδευόμεθα below
παιδευόμεθα,independent — the reassurance — παιδεύω, fatherly training (cf. Heb 12)
ἵνα μὴ σὺν τῷ κόσμῳ κατακριθῶμεν.purpose — the aim — judgment now spares from κατάκριμα then
vv. 33–34 — the practical close: wait for one another
33
ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, συνερχόμενοι εἰς τὸ φαγεῖνparticipial — fronted temporal participle with the warm address — leans on the imperative below
ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε.independent — the cure for προλαμβάνει (v. 21) — ἀλλήλους against ἕκαστος
34
εἴ τις πεινᾷ,conditional — protasis — the hunger of v. 21 provided for
ἐν οἴκῳ ἐσθιέτω,independent — private meals belong at home (cf. v. 22)
ἵνα μὴ εἰς κρίμα συνέρχησθε.purpose — the aim — κρίμα and συνέρχομαι, the section's two keywords, joined last
Τὰ δὲ λοιπὰ ὡς ἂν ἔλθω διατάξομαι.independent — the deferral — ὡς ἂν ἔλθω internal: regulations kept for the visit (cf. 4:19; 16:5)
Analysis. 1 Corinthians 11 falls into two worship-problems framed by one verb: ἐπαινῶ, granted in v. 2 and pointedly withheld in vv. 17 and 22. The headship argument (vv. 3–16) opens with a single disclosure verb — θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι — carrying the κεφαλή triad as three coordinate content lines; from there the layout alternates flush-left gnomic verdicts (the twin καταισχύνει clauses, each with its fronted participial subject leaning forward) with the olive protasis-imperative pairs of v. 6, the Genesis grounds of vv. 8–9 hanging beneath 'the woman is the glory of man', and the πλήν correction of vv. 11–12 back at the margin, before vv. 13–16 turn diatribe: κρίνατε with its πρέπον question, nature's question with its ὅτι-pair on long hair, and the φιλόνεικος protasis closed by the churches' custom. The Supper half sets the institution narrative (vv. 23–26) as a suspended quotation column — the words of institution hang as content lines from εἶπεν and λέγων, two and three levels beneath ἐγὼ γὰρ παρέλαβον — and ends (vv. 27–34) with the κρίνω-wordplay cascade (κρίμα, διακρίνων, διεκρίνομεν, ἐκρινόμεθα, κρινόμενοι, κατακριθῶμεν) laid out as protasis-apodosis pairs around the double command: examine yourself, wait for one another. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: κεφαλή in v. 3 is rendered simply 'head' and the triad kept coordinate — displaying ordered relation without forcing 'authority over' against 'source', though the grounds of vv. 8–9 (ἐκ, 'from') argue from origin and the tags say so; ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς (v. 10) is translated as the woman's own authority to pray and prophesy ('to have authority on her head'), not a symbol of another's rule; διὰ τοὺς ἀγγέλους is given its own dashed line and left as terse as Paul left it, the tag glossing the angels as attendants of worship order; τοῦτο ποιεῖτε is read — with the present imperatives and the ὁσάκις clauses — as instituting a repeated rite whose every performance proclaims the Lord's death until he comes; and τὸ σῶμα in v. 29 is tagged as deliberately double: the Lord's body in the meal and the church-body being humiliated at it.