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The Lord’s Supper

17 Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident.[a] 20 Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. 21 For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. 22 Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, 24 and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A person should examine himself first,[b] and in this way[c] let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard[d] for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.[e] 31 But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters,[f] when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:19 tn Grk “those approved may be evident among you.”
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:28 tn The word “first” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. It has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:28 tn Grk “in this manner.”
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:29 tn The word more literally means, “judging between, recognizing, distinguishing.”
  5. 1 Corinthians 11:30 tn Grk “are asleep.” The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for the death of a believer.
  6. 1 Corinthians 11:33 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper(A)

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you,(B) for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions(C) among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.(D) 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers.(E) As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God(F) by humiliating those who have nothing?(G) What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you?(H) Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord(I) what I also passed on to you:(J) The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body,(K) which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(L) in my blood;(M) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.(N)

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(O) 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves(P) before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.(Q) 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.(R) 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined(S) so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.(T)

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry(U) should eat something at home,(V) so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come(W) I will give further directions.

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