1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I prayse you, brethren, that you remember me in all things, and keepe the ordinances, as I deliuered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV)
The sentence is frequently cited as part of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, yet it does not appear in either 1 Corinthians or 2 Corinthians in the King James Version or in other standard translations. A comparable sentiment is expressed in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, where Paul thanks God for the believers’ faith, though the wording differs. Consequently, the quotation should not be presented as a verse from 1 Corinthians, and the surrounding discussion on head coverings stands independently of the misattributed quote.
In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 11:1‑16, Paul addresses proper conduct in worship, including the cultural practice of head coverings and the order of authority in the assembly. Verse 3 establishes the hierarchy: Christ as the head of every man, man as the head of woman, and God as the head of Christ. The passage emphasizes decorum, respect for tradition, and the maintenance of order during corporate worship.
If the sentence were treated as genuine, its language would reflect Paul’s typical pattern of commendation: “Now I praise you, brethren” would signal approval and encouragement to the Corinthian believers. The phrase “that ye remember me in all things” would indicate that the congregation retained his teachings, while “and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you” would commend their observance of the traditions he had handed down, which in the original context included instructions about head coverings.
However, because the quotation is not part of the canonical text, the study must distinguish between the authentic Pauline discourse on worship order and the extrabiblical sentence that has been mistakenly attached to the passage. The head‑covering discussion remains a distinct and scripturally attested teaching, independent of the misattributed commendation.
