TEACHING NOTES Introduction Last time we began a new section of 1 Corinthians that is all about issues in the church gathering. Paul has already addressed modesty and moderation in 1 Cor. 11:2-16. Now he is going to address problems with how the Corinthians are practicing the Lord’s supper or Communion and eating meals together at church. As we will see, being careless with Communion is a series problem. ‌ Background Context: Most Christians in Corinth were former pagans. Pagan worship and sacrificial feasts often included immoral and chaotic behaviors. So, the Corinthians need to learn how a Christian gathering should and should not be conducted. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:17–19 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 come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ‌ In the following I do not commend you = Paul began chapter eleven with “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you” (1 Cor. 11:2). Now Paul is going to correct the church in areas where they are wrong. ‌ When you come together = Grk. synerchomai - assemble, assembly. Paul is referring to the church gathering. He even connects this verb to the Greek word for “church” in verse 18. ‌ Not for the better but for the worse = This is strong language, but Paul wants the Corinthians to understand that they way they are behaving in church is ruining the purpose of the church gathering. In other words, church is supposed to help us get better, not make us worse. ‌ Come together as a church = Grk. synerchomai en ekklesia - come together as an assembly. The Greek word ekklesia is not unique to the Bible. This was the common Greek term in secular society for a gathering of people who are assembled for a common purpose. It was even used for an assembly of a governing body to make decisions. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), ekklesia is the term used for the assembly or congregation of Israel. Therefore, the Bible contains no concept of church without a gathering. ‌ Divisions among you = We have already seen from 1 Cor. 1-4 that there were divisions in the Corinthian church over various issues. For Paul, division in the body of Christ is deadly to the church. A divided body cannot function properly. ‌ There must be factions among you = Paul is referring here to dividing with those who are teaching false doctrine, living in unrepentant sin, or those who are not genuine. Paul says that some divisions are necessary so that there are clear boundaries for what is correct and genuine faith. We read something similar in 1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:20–22 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets 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. ‌ It is not the Lord’s supper you eat = The early church celebrated Communion (The Lord’s supper) at every Sunday gathering. It was also a full meal, not just a cracker and a shot of wine. The full meal would include a moment of prayer and repentance, then the bread and wine would be blessed and consumed. While the Corinthians think they are eating the Lord’s supper, they are actually doing it in a way that makes it merely a common meal. ‌ Each one goes ahead = Paul is referring to people in the church going ahead of others who have not yet arrived to the gathering. So, some church members were being left out of the meal and nothing was left for those who arrived later. ‌ One goes hungry = One advantage of the meal at the church gathering is providing food for those members who are in need. In the context of Corinth, the poor would likely have to work before they could go to the church gathering. Sunday was merely the first day of the week in Corinth and was a normal work day. So, the wealthier members were arriving to the gathering and eating all the food before the day laborers arrived. ‌ Another gets drunk = Some in the Corinthian church were getting drunk on the Communion wine. Drunkenness and debauchery was common in pagan worship. They were turning the most holy and serious Christian ritual into something that would usually happen in a pagan temple. ‌ Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? = Paul is saying that being gluttonous at church is selfish. There may also be a connection to the first Passover, where Israel was told eat the Passover meal in their homes and not to prepare more food than needed for one meal (Ex. 12:16). ‌ Do you despise the church of God = The Greek word for despise here is kataphroneo, which means “to look down on with contempt.” Paul uses this word to communicate that the behavior of the Corinthians shows that the church gathering is of little value to them. ‌ Humiliate those who have nothing = Mistreating the poor was also a problem in the church to whom James wrote in James 2:6 “But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?” For Paul, caring for the poor within the church family was extremely important (Gal. 2:10). One prominent element of Paul’s missionary journeys was raising money to send back to the Jerusalem church, which was impoverished. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:23–24 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ‌ I received from the Lord = Paul indicates that he did not learn about the Lord’s supper from the other apostles. Paul says “I received from the Lord.” While Paul was not in the original groups of apostles who had been with Jesus, Paul did meet the risen Jesus on more than one occasion (Acts 9; 22:17-21; 23:11). Paul also tells us in 2 Cor. 12 that he had many visions and revelations from Christ. We can safely assume that Jesus would have taught Paul during these events. ‌ This is my body, which is for you = Some manuscripts say, “This is my body, which is broken for you.” While Jesus’ body was not literally broken, breaking the bread during Communion is meant to recall how Jesus suffered in the flesh. ‌ Do this in remembrance of me = Every Jewish reader would understand that Jesus is connecting to the Exodus story. The Passover meal (Ex. 12) was instituted as a meal of remembrance or “memorial” (Ex. 12:14) to recall God saving Israel from slavery in Egypt. In the same way, the Lord’s supper is a meal of remembrance to recall how Jesus has saved us from slavery to sin, satan, and death. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:25–26 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. ‌ The new covenant in my blood = Jesus is using the same language from when Israel entered into a covenant with Yahweh—Exodus 24:8 “And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, ‘Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” Jesus connects what He is doing to the time when Israel consummated the old covenant with Yahweh. At Mt. Sinai, the elders of Israel went up the mountain and ate a meal with Yahweh (Ex. 24:9-11). ‌ Proclaim the Lord’s death = The Greek word for proclaim here is katangello, which means “to report, tell with conviction, preach.” Paul says that when the church celebrates the Lord’s supper it is a visible sermon on the Gospel. This is why we should explain the Lord’s supper to the congregation before we partake. This forces us to proclaim the Gospel story at every Sunday gathering. ‌ Christ Our Passover Lamb: The New Testament describes the death of Christ with Passover language. Even Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper as a New Passover meal. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 5:7 “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Therefore, if we want to fully understand the sacrifice of Christ, we must study the first Passover. Here are a few connections: ‌ - In the first Passover God said, “on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments” (Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4). The death and resurrection of Christ also brought judgment on sin (Rom. 8:3-4), evil powers (Col. 2:15), and death (1 Cor. 15:24-26, 53-57). ‌ - The first Passover instituted a yearly meal that was eaten in remembrance of Israel’s deliverance/salvation from Egypt (Ex. 12:14). The Lord’s supper—which was first instituted during Passover—is a meal of remembrance of our deliverance/salvation from sin and the powers of evil (Luke 22:19). ‌ - In the first Passover, the blood of the lamb on the wood of the doorposts indicated which households were faithful to God and were protected/saved from death (Ex. 12:13). Christ our Passover Lamb shed His blood on the wood of the cross and when we drink the cup we apply His blood to our bodies to declare our faithfulness to God and remember our salvation from death. ‌ - In the first Passover, only those (both Israelite and Egyptian) who obeyed the instructions of God were saved. Later generations of people became Israelite (the family of God) by being circumcised, participating in the Passover meal, and practicing the instructions of the Torah. In the same way those who are baptized (the Christian equivalent of circumcision), eat the Lord’s supper, and practice the teachings of Christ also become the family of God. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ‌ Unworthy manner = Grk. anaxios - careless, inappropriate. This must not be interpreted out of context. The context for “unworthy manner” is clearly explained in verses 20-22. The unworthy manners are: leaving others out, getting drunk, and humiliating the poor. ‌ Guilty concerning the body and blood = The Greek word for guilty here is enochos, which means “to be liable, held accountable, deserving penalty.” Paul is saying that if we take the Lord’s supper in a careless way, we will be liable to judgment for misusing the body and blood of Jesus. ‌ Examine himself = Grk. dokimazo - test, critical examination. Whenever we celebrate the Lord’s supper, we must first ask God to examine us so we can repent. We eat and drink only after examination and repentance. ‌ Discerning the body = Paul is speaking of the church body here, because the church is the body of Christ. If we take the Lord’s supper without any concern for the other members of the church family, we are partaking wrongly. ‌ Eats and drinks judgment on himself = If we leave other church members out, get drunk, or bring shame on the poor we are eating and drinking judgment on ourselves. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:30–32 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. ‌ That is why many are weak, ill, died = Paul is clear that how the Corinthians are practicing the Lord’s supper has brought physical judgment on themselves. Paul says that some are weak, some are sick, and some have died as a result. ‌ If we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged = If we judge ourselves truly we will repent and Jesus will not have to judge us. This is why Christians must live a life of continual confession and repentance. ‌ We are disciplined = When the Lord examines us, He is disciplining His children so they can learn from their mistakes and grow. This is the purpose of discipline—teaching, training, and growing up. ‌ That we may not be condemned = The discipline of the Lord ensures that we will not be condemned on the final day of judgment. ‌ 1 Corinthians 11:33–34 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. ‌ Wait for one another = Paul is connecting back to verse 21 where some church members were “going ahead” with eating before the others had arrived. Paul says they should be patient and wait for the entire family to be present. ‌ Eat at home = Those who have the means should eat bigger meals at home so the poor will have plenty to eat at the church gathering. ‌ When you come together it won’t be judgment = The church gathering should help us to avoid judgment, but the Corinthians were doing church in a way that brought more judgment on themselves. ‌ About the other things = Remember, Paul is responding to a letter he had received from the Corinthian church. Apparently, there were other concerns that Paul would rather address in person. ‌ Application The church gathering is a family gathering. The church gathering is not a self-centered service. The church gathering is for Christ and one-anothering. Communion is not merely a ritual, but is a sacred participation in the sacrifice of Christ. ‌ Next Week: Spiritual Gifts (read 1 Cor. 12)