Eating, Drinking Unworthily The Lord's Supper
A reader wrote, "When I take communion KNOWING THAT I AM NOT, AND/OR WILL NOT, AND/OR HAVE NOT, BEEN WILLING TO "DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO EDIFY AND BUILD THE KINGDOM",
Phil wrote, "Reader, you have edified the body of Christ in that you ask and raise questions, showing a real concern for a proper conduct in this matter. I would say you have in this letter said more to me than most preachers have said in a 100 bible studies or any ten sermons."
2. Readers question is, "DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY"! What exactly is this? I DO NOT DISCERN THAT I AM MAKING A VOW TO WORK WITH THOSE WHO DO! I am not discerning that I AM MAKING AND BREAKING A VOW (COMMUNION) AT THE SAME TIME! For this cause many [are] weak, and sickly among you, and many sleep". (SLEEP: LITERALLY "TO DIE" A HELL BOUND DEATH!)."
Phil wrote, "Let me see if I can throw some light on this subject. 1 Cor.11:29, appears to be the main target. First,
Lets examine the following five (5) Greek word found in ver.29. They being, Unworthily, Damnation, Not, Discerning, and Body.
1. UNWORTHILY: 371. Greek is, anaxios. Adverb. There are four Greek words for unworthy. Concerning, 1 Cor.11:29, it means, Unworthily, as in an improper manner, irreverently, 1 Cor.11:27-29, "He that eateth and drinketh unworthily."
2. DAMNATION: Condemnation: Judgement: 2917. Greek is, krima. Judgment, as in the act of judging, giving judgment, as spoken only in reference to future reward and punishment. But more often, it is the sentence of punishment, condemnation, implying also the punishment itself as a certain consequence,
Luke 20:47, Those, "Which devour widows' houses, -- shall receive greater damnation." Luke 23:40, "Dost not thou fear God, see thou art in the same condemnation?" Luke
24:20, "Delivered him to be condemned to death." Rom.2:2-3
"O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgement of God?"
See Also, Rom. 3:8, 13:2, "They that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." 1 Cor.11:29-34. Gal. 5:10. 1Tim. 3:6, 5:12. James 3:1. 2 Pet. 2:3. Jude 4. Rev. 17:1. Sept. Deut. 21:22. Jer. 4:12.
3. NOT: 3756. Greek is, ou. It is a negative particle, not, no. Expressing direct and full negation, independently and absolutely, therefore objective.
4. DISCERNING: Differ: Difference: 1252. Greek is, diakrino. There are five Greek words for discern, discerning etc. Concerning 1 Cor.11:29,
To separate throughout, as in wholly, completely, trans. Middle term which two extremes are separately compared, and by means of which they are brought together in the conclusion. To separate one's self, etc.
By implying to distinguish, to make a distinction, to cause to differ; Acts 15:9, "Put no difference between us and them." 1 Cor.11:29, "Not discerning the Lord's body," as from common food. Middle term, in which two extremes are separetly compared, and by means of which they are brought together in conclusion. James 2:4, "Are ye not then partial in yourselves," do ye not then make a distinction in yourselves? as in are ye not partial? interrogatory, and as apodosis, or the principal clause of a conditional sentence, expressing results. With the idea of preference, prerogative, 1 Cor.4:7, "who maketh thee to differ from another?" Trop. or Metaphor. To distinguish, to discern clearly, to note accurately, Matt.16:3, "can ye not discern the signs of the times?" 1 Cor.11:31, "if we would judge ourselves," as if we took a proper view, formed a just estimate of ourselves. 1 Cor.14:29, "let the other judge." Greek, "prove," or "try the spirits," in John 4:1. Septuagint for, "try (test) words," Job.12:11.
5. There are six (6) Greek words for body, bodies etc. that translate into the English word "body," etc. Concerning 1 Cor.11:29,
BODIES: 4983. Bodily: Body: Body's: 4983. Greek is, sdoma. A body, as an organized whole made up of parts and members.
Specifically of the body of Christ as crucified for the salvation of man; 1 Cor.11:29. Mark 14:22. Luke 22:19, and Matt. 26:26, " Jesus took bread, blessed it, brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body." Rom.7:4, "Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ," as through Christ crucified. 1 Cor.10:16,
"The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"
The above lays for us a foundation concerning the meaning of particular words in ver.29. Also let me remind the reader that the whole of the text is important for our understanding.
The Corinthians' contemptable behaviour and shameful display of greed and ostentaiton no longer could be considered as honoring the Lord when they came together.
1 Cor.11:19-20, "There must be also heresies (a sect) among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." Here we have the sects (the drunks and the glutinous) eating and drinking among the approved.
The Lord's supper had been turned into a memorial and ritual of selfishness and riotous eating and drinking by some, this dividing the brothers and sisters. This behaviour also fueled the neglect of the sick and poor.
The historical origin and worthy celebration of the Lord's supper was to be a proclamation of the Lord's death. This proclaimation was not of men, Gal.1:11-12, "For I (Paul) neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
In this, Paul had the authority to condemn what was going on in Corinth.
This memorial should have been a sermon on the central text of the Christian faith, that being the cross. Christians' were and are to do this in remembrance of Christ, 1 Cor.
11:24, Jesus said, "This do in remembrance of me."
The body of Christ is the church, which consists of individual believers. 1 Cor.12:12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, all the member of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ who is the head." Ver.27, "Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular = (individuals.)"
Every individual is to prove or test their own state of mind in respect to Christ's death. Self examination, soul searching Introspection and silent confession so as not to sin against the spiritual presence of the Holy Spirit. Also that we may partake and not stay away from communicating with others.
Damnation here implies judgement. This judgement is described in,
1 Cor.11:30-31-32, "Many are weak and sickly among you, and may sleep (are dead.) For if WE would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condmned with the world."
Those that had money, food, etc. in the Corinthian church were neglecting or even despised the poor, thus seperating themselves from them. This may have been a cause for the sickly, and possibility the cause of death to others: this most likely from poverty and lack of aid.
Yet these same people who ignored the poor would participate in the Lord's supper having no shame, or guilt. To sin against a brother or sister is to sin against Christ,
1 Cor.8:12, "When ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ."
These same people sinned against the body and blood of the Lord, over-eating and over-drinking. They discarding the most basic needs of others.
1 Cor.11:21-22, "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not haouses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? -- shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."
They lacked God's approvial in this behaviour. They were to ask forgiveness from the offended. Only then would a true spirit of fellowship and worship grow and thrive.
Participating in the Lord's supper without confession of sin, would bring about damnation, meaning judgement. They needed as we do also, to turn our behaviour around and act accordingly. Only in this way could we avoid judgment on ourselves.
This is not a judgement unto eternal damnation. This was to be a punishment imposed upon these self serving people. 1 Cor.11:32, "When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should NOT be condemned with the world."
The judgement of the world is to be the last judgement, or the last condemnation to individuals sent to the eternal lake of fire.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com