1 Corinthians 11:29-30
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It’s not just about eating the bread and drinking the cup, but discerning the body – meaning, recognizing it’s the Body of Christ, the Church. This isn't just a personal spiritual moment; it's a communal act that can bring judgment if we approach it with a self-centered or unloving spirit towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Paul is addressing disorderly conduct during the Lord's Supper in Corinth, where some were acting selfishly and disrespectfully. People were getting drunk and neglecting the poor among them, essentially missing the point of what the meal represents – unity in Christ's body. This verse warns that approaching this sacred meal without recognizing its deeper meaning and the unity it signifies can lead to serious consequences.
Paul doesn't hold back here. He says eating and drinking the Lord's Supper improperly brings judgment. What makes this meal so weighty?
A Meal with Deep Meaning
The early church's
Paul uses the strong word "discerning" here. It’s not just about tasting the bread and wine, but recognizing something far greater.
Seeing the Invisible
When Paul talks about "the body" in this context, he's primarily referring to the body of Christ. This is the church, the community of believers united by the Spirit.
To "discern the body" means to recognize and respect the sacred unity of all God's people, especially when gathering for this meal. It's about seeing each person present, no matter their background or status, as a vital part of Christ's one body.
When people came to the Lord's Supper in Corinth, some were acting selfishly, not waiting for others, and even getting drunk. They were failing to see and honor their brothers and sisters in Christ, thus failing to discern the body.
The word "judgment" sounds harsh. But what did Paul mean by it, and is it condemnation or a corrective measure?
Correcting the Course
Paul isn't saying that every instance of mishandling the Supper leads to eternal damnation. Instead, he's pointing to a divine discipline meant to correct and restore.
In the Corinthian church, their improper participation had led to weakness, sickness, and even death (as seen in verses 1 Corinthians 11:30). God's "judgment" here is parental discipline – a loving but firm hand to wake them up to the seriousness of their actions and to restore them to right relationship with Him and with the body of believers.
Understand the original words
diakrinō · Greek Verb
To distinguish, judge, or differentiate between things; in this context, it refers to the spiritual ability to recognize the sacred nature of the Church as the Body of Christ in the context of the ordinance.
krima · Greek Noun
A legal or divine verdict, often implying the consequences of one's actions, whether disciplinary or retributive, coming from God.
astheneis · Greek Adjective
Refers to physical lack of strength, sickness, or a state of being feeble; biblically, physical illness can sometimes be associated with divine discipline or spiritual realities.
arrōstoi · Greek Adjective
Refers to physical sickness or lack of health; in the New Testament, it is used to describe both ordinary physical ailments and conditions related to divine discipline.
Paul is addressing a specific, tangible problem in the Corinthian church where their practice of the Lord's Supper had devolved into social division and disrespect, undermining its very meaning as a sign of unity in Christ's body.
c. AD 50-52
Paul Founds the Church in Corinth
The Apostle Paul spends about 18 months in Corinth, establishing a vibrant Christian community. This period is crucial for setting the initial practices and doctrines of the church.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul Writes His First Letter to the Corinthians
Written from Ephesus, this letter addresses a wide range of issues plaguing the Corinthian church. Divisions, immorality, and doctrinal disputes are all prominent concerns.
c. AD 55
Divisions and Disorder in Worship
The Corinthian church is experiencing significant problems during their worship gatherings, including social distinctions at the Lord's Supper and disruptive behavior.
c. AD 55
The Lord's Supper Disrespected
Some members were arriving early and eating their own food, creating a divide between the wealthy and the poor, and failing to recognize the sacred meal as a sign of unity.
This passage immediately precedes our verse and explains the 'body' being referred to – the shared participation in Christ's body and blood through the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26These verses detail the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus himself, providing the context for what Paul is addressing regarding proper remembrance and discernment.
Exodus 12:14-20This Old Testament account of the Passover shows the serious command to remember God's deliverance and observe it with specific instructions, highlighting the importance of sacred remembrance which parallels Paul's concern.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8Paul uses similar language about purging out yeast and celebrating with sincerity, urging the Corinthian believers to live holy lives that reflect their new identity in Christ, connecting personal holiness to community worship.
It’s not just about eating the bread and drinking the cup, but discerning the body – meaning, recognizing it’s the Body of Christ, the Church. This isn't just a personal spiritual moment; it's a communal act that can bring judgment if we approach it with a self-centered or unloving spirit towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Paul is addressing disorderly conduct during the Lord's Supper in Corinth, where some were acting selfishly and disrespectfully. People were getting drunk and neglecting the poor among them, essentially missing the point of what the meal represents – unity in Christ's body. This verse warns that approaching this sacred meal without recognizing its deeper meaning and the unity it signifies can lead to serious consequences.
Paul is addressing disorderly conduct during the Lord's Supper in Corinth, where some were acting selfishly and disrespectfully. People were getting drunk and neglecting the poor among them, essentially missing the point of what the meal represents – unity in Christ's body. This verse warns that approaching this sacred meal without recognizing its deeper meaning and the unity it signifies can lead to serious consequences.
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It's a call to wake up, examine our hearts, and realign our actions with the sacred nature of the Supper and the unity it represents.
"For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." — It’s not just about eating the bread and drinking the cup, but discerning the body – meaning, recognizing it’s the Body of Christ, the Church. This isn't just a personal spiritual moment; it's a…
