1 Corinthians 11:21 kjv
For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1 Corinthians 11:21 nkjv
For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
1 Corinthians 11:21 niv
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.
1 Corinthians 11:21 esv
For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
1 Corinthians 11:21 nlt
For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.
1 Corinthians 11 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 10:16 | "The cup of blessing... body... blood." | Instituting the Lord's Supper |
| 1 Cor 11:23-26 | "I received from the Lord... in remembrance of me." | Instructions for the Lord's Supper |
| 1 Cor 11:27 | "Whoever eats bread or drinks cup in an unworthy manner..." | Unworthy participation |
| 1 Cor 11:29 | "judges himself... eats and drinks judgment." | Self-judgment |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "no division among you." | Call for unity |
| 1 Cor 3:3 | "still worldly." | Carnality among believers |
| 1 Cor 5:8 | "Passover... unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." | Analogy with Passover |
| Rom 12:5 | "we who are many are one in Christ." | Unity in the body of Christ |
| Eph 4:3 | "Bond of peace." | Maintaining unity |
| Gal 3:28 | "one in Christ Jesus." | Spiritual equality |
| John 6:53-56 | "eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." | Jesus' teaching on eating his body and blood |
| Matt 26:26-28 | "This is my body... this is my blood." | Institution of the Supper |
| Mark 14:22-24 | "This is my body... this is my blood." | Institution of the Supper |
| Luke 22:17-20 | "This is my body... This is my blood." | Institution of the Supper |
| Acts 2:42 | "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." | Early church practice |
| Acts 20:7 | "gathered for the breaking of bread." | Early church practice |
| 1 Cor 11:18 | "I hear that when you come together, it is into factions..." | Divisions within the church |
| 1 Cor 11:20 | "cannot really eat the Lord's Supper." | Failure to properly observe the Supper |
| 1 Cor 10:17 | "one bread, one body." | Unity in the Supper |
| Psa 104:15 | "bread that gladdens the heart." | Symbolism of bread |
| Isa 25:6 | "a feast of rich food... fine wine." | Messianic banquet |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 21 Meaning
This verse describes the Corinthians' actions during the Lord's Supper. They were partaking without discerning the Lord's body. This implies a lack of reverence and spiritual understanding.
1 Corinthians 11 21 Context
Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians addresses various issues concerning worship practices in the Corinthian church, including head coverings for women and the observance of the Lord's Supper. This specific verse is within the section detailing proper conduct at the communion meal. The Corinthians had turned this sacred remembrance into occasions of social and spiritual division, marked by selfish behavior and gluttony, failing to recognize it as a communal act signifying their unity in Christ.
1 Corinthians 11 21 Word Analysis
- Otane (ὅταν): "Whenever" or "when." It introduces a conditional or temporal clause.
- sunepchomai (συνέρχωμαι): "to come together" or "to assemble." It refers to their collective meetings.
- epi to auto (ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό): "in one place," "together," "for the same purpose." This phrase emphasizes their communal gathering.
- phagein (φαγεῖν): "to eat." This is the infinitive of the verb.
- kyriakon (κυριακόν): "Lord's." Adjective form, modifying "Supper" (deipnon). It points to the supper belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ.
- deipnon (δεῖπνον): "supper," "meal," "feast." Refers to the specific meal.
- idone (ἰδίᾳ): "separately," "each one by himself," "privately." This word highlights their self-centered and individualistic actions within the communal gathering.
- Echō (ἔχω): "to have" or "to possess." Here, "everyone is eager to have his own supper," implying possession and preparation of personal meals, leading to disparity.
- Sōtēria (σωτηρία): "salvation," "deliverance," "welfare." (This word is not in the verse itself, but the concept of God's judgment, leading to either deliverance or condemnation, is central to the surrounding verses.)
Word Group Analysis:
- "When you come together..." (sunepchomai epi to auto): This signifies their assembling for worship and fellowship.
- "...for the purpose of eating the Lord's Supper" (phagein to kyriakon deipnon): This identifies the specific nature of their gathering as the Lord's Supper.
- "...each one was eager to take his own supper first." (idiai echō [his own deipnon]): This phrase encapsulates the root problem: individualistic pursuit overriding corporate communion and mutual consideration.
1 Corinthians 11 21 Bonus Section
The Corinthians' actions are contrasted with the very essence of the Lord's Supper, which symbolizes their unity as one body in Christ (1 Cor 10:17). Their self-serving behavior in seeking their own private meals first was an outward manifestation of their deeper spiritual immaturity and a perversion of a sacred ordinance intended to build them up in love and unity. The practice of individual "love feasts" within the Lord's Supper setting, while potentially originating from good intentions for fellowship, had devolved into an occasion of exclusion and pride for many in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 11 21 Commentary
The Corinthian believers were not truly observing the Lord's Supper. Instead of a unified expression of their shared faith and remembrance of Christ's sacrifice, their gatherings were marked by selfish exclusivity. Each person was focused on securing their own meal, leading to divisions and a failure to recognize the communal significance of the supper as a symbol of unity in Christ's body. This practice rendered their observance hollow and offensive, moving away from the intended remembrance and fellowship.