Context of 1 Corinthians and the early church

• Prosperous and cosmopolitan city
• Mostly gentile believers
• Paul visited in his 2nd missionary journey

Civil litigation
1 Co 6:1-11

Sexual immorality
1 Co 5:1-13; 6:12-20

Marriage problem
1 Co 7:1-40

Food offered to idols
1 Co 8-10

• Holy Communion was part of a communal sometimes called love feast (Jude 1:12)

The Lord’s Supper (1 Co 11:17-34)

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,[a] 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 

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.

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[f] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[g] 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.

Last supper

Matthew 26:26–29;

Mark 14:22–25;

Luke 22:14–23

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. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.[h] 31 But if we judged[ ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

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.

Paul, the shepherd

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

v34 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment.

Examining ourselves and discerning the body

V21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.

V22 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?

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. 

1 Corinthians 10:17

17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

1 Corinthians 8:12

12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

31 But if we judged[ ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined[j] so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Four distinctiveness of Christianity

Christian faith is not superficial.

Superficiality and hypocrisy in “doing” Christianity

Luke 18:11-12                 – Pray

Isaiah 29:13                    –  Praise

Isaiah 58:4                     – Fast

Matthew 23:23               – Tithe

1 Corinthians 11:17-34  – Gathering / Lord’s Supper

Christian faith is not private.

Christian faith is not self-serving.

Christian faith is not conventional.

1 Corinthians 1:27

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Jesus and the Last Supper

John 13:34-25

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”