The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS 11:21 - 12:3

1896

into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, 1 That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remem- brance of me. The promise of CHRIST’S Second Coming (Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21) 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till 2 HE come. P 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, un- worthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink

of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh un- worthily, eateth and drinketh 3 damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many 4 sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, 5 we are chas- tened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, 6 tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto con- demnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. I Corinthians 12 Spiritual gifts enable Christians to fit and func- tion properly within the body of CHRIST (See - Eph 4:7,11,12) Date Written - Spring of AD 57 1 Now concerning 7 spiritual gifts , breth- ren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking 8 by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and 9 that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

1. Mt 26:26-28 2. Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21 (Christ’s Second Coming) 3. or, “chastisement” - vs. 32 4. or, “die” 5. Psa 94:12-13 & Heb 12:5-8 6. that is, “wait patiently” 7. Rom 12:5-8 8. or, “in” 9. Mt 16:13-16

11:21 During the early days of the Church, the Lord’s’ Supper was usually preceded by a fellowship meal, called an “Agape Feast.” Because this “Love Feast” was becoming a social banquet where the different classes of believers were clashing, Paul had to rebuke the Corinthian church for not making the Lord’s Supper more important than their own supper . Paul told them that if they had to have fellowship with their own particular groups, to do it at home (vs 22). 11:24 Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a divine command ( this do in remembrance of me ). This authoritative decree was given to Christians in order to remember three things: * Remember to look backward at what Jesus did for us at Calvary (vs 23-25) * Remember to look forward to the return of Jesus at His Second Coming (vs 26) * Remember to look inward and examine your own conscience (vs 28-31) Abbot Thomas Keating, in Crisis of Faith , points out the real significance behind the Eucharist (the partaking of the unleavened bread during the LORD’S SUPPER ) when he notes: It is not so much a taking of Christ into ourselves, as of His taking us into Himself. 1 NOTE – There are ten things every believer should know before taking the Lord’s Supper: 1. Where to partake of the Lord’s Supper is plain ( Mk 14:13 ) Follow the people who “carry the water” (salvation – Jn 4: 4- 10 ) and you’ll always know where you’re supposed to go to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Where to partake of the Lord’s Supper is as plain as the instructions of Jesus. Just follow the people who “carry the right salvation” and you’ll always know where you’re supposed to be to partake of the Lord’s Supper ( Jn 6:51 ). 2. The Lord’s Supper was a time of service (Jn 13:1-20 – Jesus washed the feet of His disciples) 3. The Lord’s Supper was a time of fellowship (agape feast – I Cor 11: 17- 21 -22) 4. The Lord’s Supper was a time of teaching (Jn 13-16 – Upper Room Discourse), during which time the Passover was memorialized (Exo 12:1-10/I Cor 11:23) 5. The Lord’s Supper was to be eaten in haste (Exo 12:11/I Cor 11:23-25) 6. Only believers were to partake of the Lord’s Supper (Exo 12:43,48/I Cor 11:26)