Communions, gatherings, worship services, church services — call them whatever you like. But the Apostle Paul provides some pointed correction for the church as we continue in 1 Corinthians 11.
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Although our frequent focus on communions often points toward Good Friday, Christians frequently place Holy Communion at the center of our controversies between Protestants and Roman Catholics. However today we will apply the Apostle Paul's exhortation of the Corinthian church in the context of his first letter to these saints.
Communion – Sharing in the Lord’s Supper
What’s the Apostle Paul saying to the Church?
It’s an Exhortation
“..your gatherings do more harm than good.
1 Corinthians 11:17b Berean Standard Version
Pretty strait-forward
Paul addresses these communions (as the idolatrous feasts of Corinth he has already addressed) presenting a clear choice for godly saints of the Church at Corinth.
v.17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. – BSB
for the Church
Would you like to hear Paul's introduction in another way?
1 Corinthians 11:18
- For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. – NKJV
- In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. – NIV
- For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. – HNV
This is simply Paul’s FIRST POINT following the Apostle’s exhortation about sanctified living AND following his FIRST POINT about ROLES in Christian Worship within this section of his Epistle ordering Christ’s instructions for worship.
The Apostle Paul specifically points to times when we assemble [or come together] συνέρχομαι – synerchomai as a CHURCH ἐκκλησίᾳ – ekklēsia.
Many of you know this Greek word for church.
LOOK at its definition
(nothing specifically yet about communion here. But read on.)
The Apostle then continues in his outline for Christian gatherings.
Sharing in the Lord’s Supper ( 11:17–34 )
An exhortation for social and festive meals in the church community
Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.
21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.
22 Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?
What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this?
No, I will not!
The Apostle’s transition into this section had been:
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. – 1 Cor 11:1 KJV
Paul's focus:
Our communions other than Holy Communion
In order to view the seriousness in Paul’s challenge, let’s back-up a moment to view Paul’s instructions concerning DIVISIONS [*schisma] from the King James Version.
For there must be also heresies among you,
that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
* In the first major schism of the Church in the A.D. 11th century the Roman Church divided from the Orthodox Church. See the Timeline in the link above.
Common Era christians dare not mention such things as HERESY, lest we offend some unbeliever in our gathering or sharing in breaking bread with us at an occasional community evangelism feast.
We prefer a gentler approach of translations of αἵρεσις - hairesis like: factions or divisions or differences.
11:20 συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν
When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
Does the Apostle then instruct the Church NOT to share in Holy Communion?
NO, certainly not.
Only not to participate in such a community meal alongside unbelievers (EVEN ‘at church’ ), including those who are not in Christ in this Holy Sacrifice of Communion as worship.
The Lord’s Supper
Many worshipping Christians can recite some of several Gospel references from various communions celebrated either casually or as rites by various Christian factions or divisions or differences.
You may want to READ some of the Gospel including these Holy Scriptures, but I urge you for now to remain focused on the Apostle’s INSTRUCTION specifically to saints of the Church at Corinth (in ~ A.D. 55).
Gospel cross-references to the Lord’s Supper
– King James Version
FURTHER STUDY of 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 (various versions)
a HOLY Communion in Christ celebrated by the Body of Christ
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..
1 Corinthians 11:23a KJV
Before we forget, although many rites of communions of some churches treat this text formally, the Apostle is instructing believers in Corinth this time by LETTER (an epistle).
Paul here reiterates from the Gospel accounts that which the Apostle had already instructed in person.
.. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:
this is my body, which is broken for you:
this do in remembrance of me.
The APOSTLE PAUL just reminded those saints faithful to Christ in the Corinthian Church of JESUS’ instruction for disciples (followers) to break BREAD as His body would be broken for us.
THEREFORE, remember our Lord Jesus in this dedicatory communion. BUT Christ continues His command of the New Covenant with taking the same cup.
After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying,
This cup is the new testament in my blood:
this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,
in remembrance of me.
First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-25 King James Version
An Apostolic Application
Again, I remind us that Paul proclaims that which the Apostle has already taught to the saints of Corinth.
And now he will apply it their challenging current situations where some communicants of Corinth no longer observe the Communion commanded by Christ as HOLY – that is SEPARATED, for Holy saints of the Lord set apart from the festive communions of their pagan community.
Once again, Paul has already WRITTEN:
- NOT to eat Food Sacrificed to Idols AND taught lessons of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt concerning their idolatry.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The Apostle had reminded the saints of Corinth earlier in his letter of both his authority and humility in Christ confirming:
- I have applied these things to myself [THEREFORE] learn from us not to go beyond what is written.
- Paul’s instruction consequently will require the saints of Corinth:
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Note the Apostle’s CAUTION to communicants:
27 Therefore, 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. – BSB
Commentary – Study Bible [below]
- The term “unworthy manner” suggests a lack of reverence or self-examination
- The “bread” and “cup” symbolize the body and blood of Christ, and partaking in them requires a heart of humility and repentance.
- To be “guilty of sinning” implies a serious offense, akin to profaning something holy.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:29 King James Version
If we would judge ourselves
The Apostle offers a few additional reasons to examine ourselves before these communions with the world and the Holy Communion of the saints of our local church.
- That is why many among you are weak and sick,
- and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
- But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
In conclusion, Paul reiterates about their divisions over their communions.
ἐκδέχομαι – ekdechomai
33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat,
tarry one for another.
translates the King James
- to receive, accept
- to look for, expect, wait for, await: ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε wait for one another, namely, until each shall have received his food, 1 Corinthians 11:33, cf.
PAUL closes this section of his letter about divisions stating that he has more to say about other issues later in person.
“.. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
Judge for yourself
Is ANYTHING wrong with the Communions of your local church?
What do the Apostles and Christ instruct?
Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
