The Lord's Supper

17 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. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, (A)I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,[a] 19 for (B)there must be factions among you in order (C)that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, (D)another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise (E)the church of God and (F)humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

23 For (G)I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that (H)the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[b] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[c] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death (I)until he comes.

27 (J)Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord (K)in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning (L)the body and blood of the Lord. 28 (M)Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some (N)have died.[d] 31 (O)But if we judged[e] ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, (P)we are disciplined[f] so that we may not be (Q)condemned along with the world.

33 So then, my brothers,[g] when you come together to eat, wait for[h] one another— 34 (R)if anyone is hungry, (S)let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things (T)I will give directions (U)when I come.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or I believe a certain report
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:24 Some manuscripts broken for
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:24 Or as my memorial; also verse 25
  4. 1 Corinthians 11:30 Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
  5. 1 Corinthians 11:31 Or discerned
  6. 1 Corinthians 11:32 Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord
  7. 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or brothers and sisters
  8. 1 Corinthians 11:33 Or share with

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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