17 Now in giving this next instruction (A)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 [a]as a church, I hear that [b](B)divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also (C)have to be factions among you, (D)so that those who are approved may become [c]evident among you. 20 Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while (E)another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the (F)church of God and (G)shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall (H)I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Lit in church
  2. 1 Corinthians 11:18 Or dissensions
  3. 1 Corinthians 11:19 Or recognizable

Abuses at 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 assemble as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and I partly believe it, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you meet together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal, and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 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.

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