1 Corinthians 11:22 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Corinthians 11:22 kjv
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.
1 Corinthians 11:22 nkjv
What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
1 Corinthians 11:22 niv
Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
1 Corinthians 11:22 esv
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.
1 Corinthians 11:22 nlt
What? Don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God's church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!
1 Corinthians 11 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jam 2:1-4 | My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ... Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? | Warning against partiality based on wealth. |
| Jam 2:5-7 | Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith... Is it not the rich who oppress you? | God favors the poor, the rich often oppress. |
| Prov 14:31 | Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. | Oppressing the poor is insulting to God. |
| Prov 17:5 | Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. | Mocking the poor dishonors God. |
| Mt 25:34-40 | Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. | Identifying with Christ through serving the needy. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity and equality in Christ regardless of social status. |
| Rom 12:13 | Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. | Practical instruction for Christian charity. |
| Rom 12:5 | so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. | Emphasizing unity and mutual dependence. |
| 1 Cor 12:26 | If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. | The interconnectedness of the body of Christ. |
| Eph 4:1-3 | walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness... eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Call to humility, unity, and peace in fellowship. |
| 1 Jn 4:20-21 | If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar... | Love for God demonstrated through love for neighbor. |
| Acts 2:44-46 | all who believed were together and had all things in common... breaking bread in their homes... with glad and generous hearts. | Early church fellowship characterized by sharing. |
| Acts 4:32 | Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own... | Early church communal sharing and lack of selfishness. |
| 1 Cor 11:18 | For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you... | Paul's initial concern about divisions in Corinth. |
| 1 Cor 11:20-21 | When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal... one is hungry and another gets drunk. | The immediate context: describing the specific abuse. |
| 1 Cor 11:27 | 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. | Warning against unworthy participation in the Supper. |
| 1 Cor 11:29 | For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. | Lack of spiritual discernment leads to judgment. |
| Luke 16:15 | And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." | God judges the heart and despises human pride. |
| Isa 5:24 | Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble... because they have rejected the law of the Lord... | Despising the Lord's law (justice) brings judgment. |
| Mal 1:6-8 | "A son honors his father... "But you say, 'How have we despised your name?' By offering polluted food upon my altar..." | Despising God's name through defiling sacred things. |
| Heb 13:2 | Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. | Encouragement of hospitality. |
| Mt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven... | Warning against worldly focus and materialism. |
| Phil 3:18-19 | Their end is destruction, their god is their stomach, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. | Warning against those whose focus is on carnal pleasures. |
| Col 3:12-14 | Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience... | Call to compassion and unity in the church. |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 22 meaning
1 Corinthians 11:22 is a sharp rebuke from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. He confronts them about their disorderly and socially stratified conduct during their communal meals, specifically how it corrupted the Lord's Supper. Paul points out the blatant hypocrisy of wealthier members eating and drinking to excess while their poorer brethren, who likely worked longer hours, arrived later and went without. This behavior demonstrated a profound contempt for the spiritual significance of the gathering, a shaming of the disadvantaged members of the body of Christ, and an improper use of their church assembly as merely a place for self-gratification instead of Christian fellowship and worship. He vehemently refuses to commend such actions, making it clear they are contrary to gospel principles.
1 Corinthians 11 22 Context
First Corinthians chapter 11 shifts Paul's attention to issues related to worship practices within the Corinthian church. Following discussions on spiritual gifts and the roles of men and women in the assembly (vv. 2-16), Paul addresses profound divisions that arose during their communal meals, specifically how they observed the Lord's Supper. In the early church, the Lord's Supper was often integrated into an 'agape feast' or love feast, a full meal shared by believers in homes. Corinth was a prosperous but highly stratified society, and these social divisions seeped into the church gatherings. Wealthier members, who had leisure time and often larger homes to host, would arrive early and feast lavishly, sometimes getting drunk. Poorer members, who worked longer hours, would arrive later, only to find little or nothing left to eat. This created a stark contrast where some were hungry while others were overfed, entirely undermining the spirit of unity, love, and equality that should characterize the body of Christ and the remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice. Verse 22 serves as Paul's indignant culmination of his critique of this selfish and dishonoring practice, highlighting how it disgraced both the assembly of God and its vulnerable members.
1 Corinthians 11 22 Word analysis
What! (Μὴ γὰρ οὐκ, Mē gar ouk): This strong interrogative particle group expresses rhetorical indignation and disbelief, signaling Paul's severe disapproval and expecting an obvious "no."
Do you not have houses (ἔχετε οἴκους, echete oikous): "Oikous" (οἴκους) refers to private residences or homes. Paul implies that personal appetites should be satisfied at home, not at the expense of communal Christian charity in the church assembly.
to eat and drink in? (εἰς τὸ ἐσθίειν καὶ πίνειν, eis to esthiein kai pinein): This phrase specifies the purpose of private homes. Basic physical nourishment should occur in one's own dwelling, rather than creating division within the shared worship space.
Or do you despise (Ἢ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ θεοῦ καταφρονεῖτε, ē tēs ekklēsias tou theou katafroneite): "Katafroneite" (καταφρονεῖτε) means "to look down upon, scorn, disdain, treat with contempt." This expresses a severe disregard. The "Or" indicates this as an alternative, yet more damning, interpretation of their actions.
the church of God (τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ θεοῦ, tēs ekklēsias tou theou): "Ekklēsia" (ἐκκλησίας) here primarily refers to the assembly of God's people, the gathered community of believers, not a physical building. Despising the church of God meant despising the people whom God has called, chosen, and redeemed.
and humiliate (καὶ καταισχύνετε, kai kataischynete): "Kataischynete" (καταισχύνετε) means "to put to shame, disgrace, dishonor, cause to be humiliated." This is a strong verb indicating severe negative impact on dignity.
those who have nothing? (τοὺς μὴ ἔχοντας, tous mē echontas): Literally, "the ones not having." This phrase clearly designates the poorer members of the community, likely those lacking sufficient food or resources. Their public exposure of poverty was shameful within the communal setting.
Words-group analysis:
- "Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?": This opening rhetorical question challenges the Corinthians on the propriety of their actions. It argues that their personal need for food and drink should be fulfilled in their private spheres, not by misusing and corrupting a sacred communal gathering.
- "Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?": This is the core accusation. Paul explicitly links their selfish actions to two severe offenses: despising the collective body of believers (the church of God) and shaming its most vulnerable members. This highlights that contempt for the poor is contempt for God and His chosen people.
- "What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.": This powerful rhetorical climax signifies Paul's complete and utter rejection of their behavior. The final "No, I will not" is an unequivocal condemnation, leaving no room for leniency or approval for their sinful conduct.
1 Corinthians 11 22 Bonus section
The historical practice of "love feasts" (agape meals) provided the framework for the abuses Paul addresses. These meals were intended to express Christian fellowship, unity, and shared life, echoing the practices of the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47). The Corinthians, however, perverted this beautiful tradition into an opportunity to reinforce social distinctions rather than transcend them. Paul’s response is not just a theological correction but a call for practical ethics rooted in Christ's selfless love, which tore down dividing walls. This highlights the principle that communal meals within a church setting are never merely about eating; they are visible demonstrations of our theological convictions about the body of Christ, equality, and our shared participation in Christ's sacrifice. The shaming of the poor at these gatherings was a direct antithesis to the humble and unifying nature of the Lord's Supper itself, rendering their participation "unworthy" (1 Cor 11:27). The incident also illustrates the enduring challenge for the church in all ages to ensure that economic or social differences do not create barriers to genuine Christian fellowship and dignity.
1 Corinthians 11 22 Commentary
Paul's condemnation in 1 Corinthians 11:22 is a profound lesson on the integrity of Christian worship and the essential role of communal love. The wealthy Corinthians' self-indulgent behavior at the common meal, preceding or integrated with the Lord's Supper, wasn't just poor etiquette; it was a grave spiritual offense. By prioritizing their own appetites and social standing over the needs of the poorer members, they fundamentally violated the unity of the "church of God"—the body of believers—and displayed contempt for its most vulnerable parts. The act of "humiliating those who have nothing" struck at the heart of the gospel, which preaches equality and selfless love exemplified by Christ. This verse reminds us that true worship transcends ritual; it must be manifested in how believers treat each other, especially across socio-economic divides. Any practice that causes division, shame, or neglects the less fortunate within the assembly renders the sacred communal act, such as the Lord's Supper, meaningless and even offensive to God. Paul's absolute refusal to commend them underscores the seriousness of such conduct, urging genuine repentance and a radical re-alignment with Christ's self-giving example.
- Practical example: In contemporary church gatherings, this calls for intentional hospitality and integration of all members, ensuring no one feels overlooked, shamed, or excluded due to social or economic differences during shared meals or activities.