In Search Of Truth, 1st Corinthians 11:17-34

Although Paul had some encouraging praise for the Corinthians at the beginning of this chapter (v.2), he doesn’t hesitate to express concern here. As mentioned in chapter 1, Paul has learned of some divisions going on in this community of believers. In chapter 1, the source of division was related to various teachers as each faction aimed to gain social status by attaching themselves to the teacher they thought was superior. In the second half of chapter 11, the social divisions were probably more closely related to social status from the mainstream Corinthian culture that was spilling over into the church.

 

Paul does point out one ironic benefit of these divisions. When people are segmented into obvious groups with different attitudes and priorities, it is easier to separate those on the wrong path from those on the right one. (v.19)

 

When entertaining guests, it was common for the wealthy in Greek culture to have favored guests in a reserved room, where they received the best food and attention. Lower class guests ate in a connected room and received inferior food and wine during the meal. With both rooms connected, the separation was constantly felt between both groups.

 

Based on Paul’s description(v.20-21), it seems the Corinthians were allowing this or a similar custom to affect their worship time together. Specifically, it was affecting their gathering for “The Lord’s Supper”. (v.20)

 

In the Corinthian church, the practice of The Lord’s Supper was part of an actual meal. There’s nothing strange about this, considering that Jesus created this tradition at the tail end of a Passover meal. The first Christians practiced this tradition in connection to other meals as well, and more than once a year.

 

Although the Corinthian church was coming together for a time of worship, Paul said that they were not truly experiencing “The Lord’s Supper” because of their selfishness.(v.20) Some of them were looking at this special time as an opportunity to gratify their personal desires.(v.21-22) By favoring themselves and a few others, these people were “despising the church”.(v.22) Not the church as an organization, but the church as a body of people.

 

If we allow social cliques to develop in our Christian communities, if we exclude other Christians from being a part of our “group”, we are despising God’s church and his desire for it to be unified.(John 17:20-21)

 

Paul then aims to refocus the Corinthians toward the central meaning of “The Lord’s Supper”, or as many Christians practice and call it today, Communion. (v.23-25)

 

Paul also says something in verse 26 that, while not his main point, is worth noticing. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” In a few religions as well as pop-culture consciousness, the death of Jesus is something played down. Many would rather focus on Jesus’ moral teaching or his healing miracles instead of his death. But the cross is central to Christianity. The same scripture that emphasizes Christ’s teaching and miracles also spends a great deal of time on the subject of his death. And here, Paul even says that as believers, we are to “proclaim” the death of Jesus repeatedly. Jesus, without an emphasis to the centrality of the cross, is not the real Jesus.

 

Returning to context, it’s clear that Paul wants the Corinthians (and us as well) to be mentally aware of the significance of this tradition as we are participating in it. The Greek word for “unworthy manner” in verse 27 is also translated “irreverently”. We should think of and revere Christ as we participate in communion. We’re also meant to “examine” ourselves before participating. Is our mind in the right place? Is there sin we need to confess to God? This is the attitude we should have when eating and drinking in our times of communion. It’s certainly not the ONLY thing that should be going through our minds, but it’s an important element.

 

If we take part in communion with a selfish or arrogant attitude toward other Christians(not judging or valuing “the body”/church rightly as it says in verse 29), we bring God’s judgment on ourselves. The Greek word for “judgment” in verse 29 isn’t referring to hell or eternal punishment, but consequences experienced in this life. Paul gives health problems and even death as examples of this in verse 30(“sleeping” was a metaphor for death in this time and culture).

 

Paul says that this kind of discipline can be avoided if we learn to evaluate ourselves more effectively.(v.31) God doesn’t want to have to discipline us and he doesn’t want us to blend in with the rest of the world. The Greek word for “condemned” in verse 32 can refer to temporal punishment, eternal punishment, or to show someone worthy of condemnation. Genuine believers never have to fear eternal condemnation. Ever. (Romans 8:1) But God doesn’t want us to carelessly display a worthiness to be condemned. He wants us to live differently from the default pattern of humanity.

The core of Paul’s message here is for the Corinthians to be unified to God and each other, considering each other’s needs and desires before their own.

 

Next Week- “Spiritual Gifts”

 

Coffee House Question

 

How might Christian churches do a better job of welcoming sub-cultures (geeks, gamers, fans, etc.)? How might sub-cultures do a better job of  connecting to Christian churches?