1Cor 11:17-34 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 11:17-34: 11:17-34 Paul addresses problems in the way the Corinthians were relating to each other and to the Lord while taking the Lord’s Supper. 11:17 when you meet together: Early Christians met together in someone’s home at least once a week, usually on the Lord’s Day (see 16:2 ).

Summary for 1Cor 11:17-34: 11:17-34 ^a Paul addresses problems in the way the Corinthians were relating to each other and to the Lord while taking the Lord’s Supper. 11:17 ^b when you meet together: Early Christians met together in someone’s home at least once a week, usually on the Lord’s Day (see 16:2 ^c).
11:18 ^d The divisions may be those spoken of in 1:10-12 ^e (cp. Titus 3:10 ^f), or (more likely) the result of social discrimination when they shared meals (see 1 Cor 11:21-22 ^g, 33 ^h; Acts 6:1 ⁱ).
11:19 ^j As translated, this ironic expression rebukes the Corinthian Christians’ claims to superiority based on distinctions among them. Alternatively, Paul might be saying that though their divisiveness is clearly wrong, it will have the positive result of making clear who among them is truly faithful.
Summary for 1Cor 11:20-22: 11:20-22 ^k Some people were more concerned about eating their own supper than with the Lord’s Supper.
11:23 ^l I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself: This is one of the few explicit references in Paul’s letters to traditions handed down from Christ (see also 7:10 ^m; 9:14 ⁿ; cp. 1 Thes 4:15-17 ^o).

• On the night when he was betrayed: See Mark 14:43-46 ^p.
11:24 ^q Jews and early Christians traditionally gave thanks to God for their food before eating (see study note on Mark 14:22-25).

• This is my body: Cp. John 6:32-35 ^r, 48-58 ^s.
11:25 ^t After supper might suggest that the main meal separated the breaking of the bread from the drinking of the cup (see Luke 22:20 ^u).

• The new covenant is God’s promise to forgive sins because of the sacrificial death of Jesus (cp. Jer 31:31-34 ^v; 32:40 ^w; Luke 22:20 ^x; Heb 7:22 ^y; 8:8-10 ^z; 9:15 ^aa; 10:12-18 ^ab; 12:24 ^ac; 13:20 ^ad). The blood of a sacrifice confirmed an agreement or covenant (see Exod 24:8 ^ae; Zech 9:11 ^af; Heb 9:12 ^ag; 13:20 ^ah; cp. Rom 3:25 ^ai; 5:9 ^aj).
11:26 ^ak In taking the Lord’s Supper, Christians proclaim the saving significance of the Lord’s death to those around them until he comes again (see 1:7-8 ^al; cp. 1 Thes 1:9-10 ^am; 3:12 ^an; 4:13-18 ^ao; 5:23 ^ap).
11:27 ^aq To take the Lord’s Supper without recognizing its significance or with unconfessed sin in one’s life is to take it unworthily (see 11:28-31 ^ar). It is equivalent to sinning against the body and blood of the Lord himself; it treats his sacrificial death as trivial (cp. Heb 10:29 ^as).
11:28 ^at Before taking the Lord’s Supper, Christians should confess their sins and consider what the bread and the cup signify (11:26 ^au).
Summary for 1Cor 11:29-30: 11:29-30 ^av In light of 11:27 ^aw, the body of Christ is probably to be understood here as a reference to the death of Christ, not to the church, though some interpret it that way.

• Those who eat the bread or drink the cup unworthily thereby invoke God’s judgment upon themselves. Such judgment may be expressed in infirmities, sickness, and even death (cp. Acts 5:5 ^ax, 10 ^ay).
11:31 ^az Self-judgment (which implies confession of sin and repentance) averts God’s judgment.
11:32 ^ba When God’s people are judged by the Lord and disciplined (cp. Deut 8:5 ^bb; Heb 12:5-11 ^bc), it is for their ultimate good, so that they will not be condemned along with the world (see Eph 2:1-3 ^bd).
11:34 ^be after I arrive: Paul was planning to visit soon (4:19 ^bf; 16:5-7 ^bg).