Meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34?

Question

I know what the plain meaning is to me, but I'm also aware that that meaning is incompatible with the belief held by about 2/5 of Christians, that the bread and wine are not really Jesus's body and blood. Usually when I don't see how other people might interpret a passage, I find looking it up in a translation they use shows some likely possibilities, but even in the NIV I find it hard to come up with plausible alternatives.

So, separated brethren, what does your Church teach this passage means when it says "For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgement on themselves" and "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord"?

I quote the entire passage below (from the NIV) for the lazy.

-----Quotation from 1 Corinthians 11, NIV-----
 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

Answerer #1 · Accepted Answer

In the church at Corinth at that time, there was a practice of saying who was and was not "eligible" to take communion.

First, Paul reminds them of what communion is supposed to be about.  Then he said God said this kind of judging someone and deeming them "not good enough" for Jesus' sacrifice was "sinning against the body and blood of the Lord". It is out job to examine ourselves when we take communion.

He is telling them not to let the communion turn into raucous feasts where only certain people are permitted.  Communion is for reverential self-examination as well as fellowship with ALL believers.  It isn't to nourish the body - you can do that by eating at home.

Linda · Answer

First Paul is criticizing the congregation he is writing to. This is quite proper as Paul was an elder so to speak and if they were behaving in a manner as he is describing he had every right to discipline them.

He is referring here to 3  separate things. When place, no matter how humble, is designated as a place of worship, it should be respected and for example, no drunk should enter it.

There are 2 classes of Christians. 144,000 people have been selected to go to heaven and rule with Jesus for 1000 years. They will judge and assist those of us remaining on earth. Paul was one of these
as were many of the early disciples. No one knows but the individual person, (the bible says that God's spirit testifies with their spirit). These are the ones that Jesus made the new covenant with. Therefore they are the only ones who are allowed to partake of the bread and wine.

Those of us who will live through Armageddon or be resurrected on earth are not part of this covenant. We only support it.

It has happened in the past that someone who failed to eat before attending the memorial supper and being hungry ate the bread. Astonishing but true. We are warned every year about this.

And of course, a drunk is liable to do anything. Knowing that you are not supposed to take it and taking it anyway is a willful rebellion against God. Not a good thing.

I hope this helps your understanding.

CWSfan · Answer

He was writing to the Corinthians because there were stories about people eating large meals and getting drunk at church. People were forming their small groups and excluding people, Each small group was making judgment against other groups. He was telling them if you are hungry eat before you go to church. The Eucharist isn't intended to be a meal, it is to be in remembrance of Jesus. If you disrespect the Eucharist you are committing a sin against the Lord.
He ended with this should be a communal event, everyone should be included.
Just remember "is" means is.

Anonymous · Answer

For Catholics, when transubstantiation takes place it does not mean that the bread and wine become actual flesh and actual blood.

If we took them to a lab and tested them they would still be bread and wine.

However, when this takes place the bread and wine become sacred, for we believe that the actual presence of Jesus Christ has become evident. 

They are much more than just symbols of his presence, for us Jesus is Alive in the Sacrament!

Hope this helped,

Pax Dei

Anonymous · Answer

' the bread and wine are not really Jesus's body and blood.'
No. Are u suggesting that christians are cannibals ... ?!!!

the bread and wine is a TESTAMENT.
Means one enters into an agreement with Jesus to be His follower.
One gets baptized, then and only then, is one able to partake the bread and the wine.
This is done ... in remembrance of me .. meaning we remember we have entered into an agreement to FOLLOW JESUS .. be His follower. To abide by His Law. 

Therefore, we bring condemnation upon ourselves when we take the bread and wine when we are NOT following the Law.

Meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34?

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