1 Corinthians 11:17-34 But in giving you these instructions, I have a criticism to make about you people. It is that your assemblies are doing more harm than good.

AUV⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁷ But in giving you these instructions, I have a criticism to make [about you people]. It is that your assemblies are doing more harm than good. ¹⁸ For first of all, I have been informed [Note: This was probably by Chloe’s family. See 1:11] that divisions exist among you people when you assemble as a congregation. And I am inclined to believe it [is true]. ¹⁹ For it is to be expected [i.e., it is inevitable] that there would be dissensions among you, so that those who are approved [by God] can become known among you. ²⁰ So, when you people assemble together [Note: This was a church meeting at which they also shared a common meal prior to the Lord’s Supper], it is not possible to eat the Lord’s Supper [properly]. ²¹ For as you are eating, each one of you partakes of his own supper [ahead of the others], so that one person is [still] hungry while the other gets drunk. ²² Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or, do you despise the church of God and put to shame those people who do not have anything [to eat]? What should I say to you? Should I commend you for doing this? Certainly not! ²³ For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you: On the night the Lord Jesus was turned over [to the Jewish authorities] He took bread, ²⁴ and after giving thanks [for it], He broke it [in pieces] and said, “This represents my [physical] body, which is [to be given] for you. [Continue to] do this in memory of me.” ²⁵ In the same way [He took] the cup also, after supper, and said, “This cup [i.e., its contents] represents the New Agreement [ratified] by my blood. [Continue to] do this, whenever you people drink from it, in memory of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes [again]. ²⁷ Therefore, whoever eats the [Lord’s] bread or drinks from the Lord’s cup in a way that is unworthy [of them. See verse 21], will be guilty of [dishonoring] the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ So, a person should examine himself [first] and then he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For a person who eats and drinks without determining the significance of the body [of Jesus], [i.e., without showing proper reverence for Christ, as represented by the bread and cup (see verse 27), or without distinguishing this sacred memorial Supper from a common meal], eats and drinks judgment upon himself. [Note: Some apply “the body” in this verse to the church and explain it as a warning against failing to appreciate the unity that the Supper is intended to signify]. ³⁰ Because of this [i.e., their improper partaking of the Supper], many people among you are weak and ill, and a number have fallen asleep [i.e., died]. [Note: While most commentators view this judgment as physical, there is a distinct possibility that it refers to spiritual sickness and death]. ³¹ But if we [had] examined ourselves [properly], we would not be [i.e., not have been] judged [i.e., with sickness and death. See verse 30]. ³² But since we are being judged, we are [also] being disciplined by the Lord, so that we do not have to be condemned along with the world. ³³ So, my brothers, when you assemble for a meal, wait for each other [i.e., so some will not be finished before others. See verse 21]. ³⁴ If anyone is [too] hungry [i.e., to wait], he should eat at home, so that your assembly does not result in judgment [falling on some of you. See verse 30]. And I will tend to the remaining matters when I come [to you].