![]() For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself … So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another- if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ![]() ![]() Paul continues and says: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. So now we get to the misused portion in many of our churches. The implication of course, is that what the Corinthian church was doing was not properly proclaiming the Lord’s death because they weren’t doing it together. And of course at the very end, he emphasizes that the act, done together, is the proclamation of the Lord’s death until he comes. He’s reminding them that right from the beginning this was an act done together as disciples of Jesus. It’s not something that should be subject to the whims of certain individuals or groups. “I also delivered to y’all”, “which is for y’all,” as often as y’all drink it,” “as often as y'all eat this bread,” “y’all proclaim the Lord’s death.” Paul is reminding the reader’s that the practice of the Lord’s supper is a Congregational practice. So look at this passage again and let me show you where you is plural. That’s why I like to tell my students when I teach them Greek to use the word “y’all” for the plural form. You see, in English the word “you" can be either singular you, or plural you (as in you all). So here’s where the English language fails us a little, and consequently we don’t fully hear what Paul is saying. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Paul states in the next few verses: "“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Paul tells those people who were eating everything and drinking everything, “you despise the Church of God and humiliate those who have nothing.” This was the context under which Paul wrote this passage. So some people came early, ate and drank too much or all of the food, and then later groups would come and not have anything or very little. Because of the divisions in the church - whether the divisions were over loyalties to one apostle or another, or social and class divisions - when they were coming together some people were having their fill, thinking that it was just about the food, and not the communion that they were to have together with the Lord. Now the problem was that they were not actually sitting down together as a church. But the early church wasn’t that way - They got together for a full meal - just like Jesus and his disciples. Churches today don’t really do this anymore, rather it has become a part of a larger service, usually with just a small piece of bread and a small cup of wine or juice. ![]() So here’s the scenario - when the early church got together to celebrate the Lord’s supper it was a communal meal together. ![]() What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.” For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. “But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. So let’s dive right in.ĭepending on how often your church practices communion, inevitably the words from 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 is read. In this video I want to talk about what I think is a very misunderstood and misused passage in churches today. ![]()
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