1 Corinthians 11:17-34

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

[17] Now  that I declare  unto you I praise  you not,  that  ye come together  not  for  but  for  the worse.  [18] For  first of all,  come together  in  the church,  I hear  that there be  divisions  among  and  I partly  believe  it.  [19] For  there must  also  heresies  among  that  they which are approved  may be made  manifest  among  [20] come together  therefore  into  one place,  not  to eat  the Lord's  supper.  [21] For  in  eating  every one  taketh before  other his own  supper:  and  one  is hungry,  and  another  is drunken.  [22] What?  have ye  houses  to eat  and  to drink  in?  or  despise ye  the church  of God,  and  shame  them that have  not?  What  shall I say  shall I praise  in  I praise  you not.  [23] For  have received  of  the Lord  that which  also  I delivered  That  the Lord  Jesus  the same night  in  which  he was betrayed  took  bread:  [24] And  when he had given thanks,  he brake  it, and  said,  body,  which  is broken  for  do  in  remembrance  of me.  [25] After the same manner  also  he took the cup,  when  he had supped,  saying,  cup  the new  testament  in  my  blood:  do ye,  as oft as  ye drink  it, in  remembrance  of me.  [26] For  ye eat  bread,  and  drink  cup,  ye do shew  the Lord's  death  till  he  come.  [27] Wherefore  whosoever  shall eat  bread,  and  drink  this cup  of the Lord,  unworthily,  guilty  of the body  and  blood  of the Lord.  [28] But  a man  examine  himself,  and  so  let him eat  of  that bread,  and  drink  of  that cup.  [29] For  he that eateth  and  drinketh  eateth  and  drinketh  damnation  to himself,  not  discerning  body.  [30] cause  many  are weak  and  sickly  among  and  many  sleep.  [31] if  we would judge  ourselves,  we should  not  be judged.  [32] But  when we are judged,  we are chastened  of  the Lord,  be condemned  with  the world.  [33] Wherefore,  brethren,  when ye come together  to  eat,  tarry  one for another.  [34] And  hunger,  let him eat  at  home;  together  unto  condemnation.  And  the rest  will I set in order  when  I come. 

What does 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Most of the Corinthians had been following Paul"s instructions regarding women"s head-coverings so he commended them ( 1 Corinthians 11:2), but he could not approve their practice at the Lord"s Supper. They needed to make some major changes there. What they were doing cut at the heart of both the gospel and the church. This is the one certain situation in the Corinthian church that Paul addressed in chapters7-16 that the Corinthians themselves had not asked him about. He wrote that he had heard about it ( 1 Corinthians 11:18).
By way of background, we need to remember that in antiquity meals typically accompanied public worship in the early church, in Judaism, and in the pagan world. The early Christians observed the Lord"s Supper as part of such a meal, often called the love feast. Paul"s concern was that the love feast had become an occasion, not of love for fellow believers, but of selfishness.