1 Corinthians 11:27 kjv
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:27 nkjv
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:27 niv
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:27 esv
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.
1 Corinthians 11:27 nlt
So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 11:28 | But let a person examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. | Self-examination before communion |
| 1 Cor 11:29 | For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body—discerning the Lord's body. | Understanding the true meaning of the Lord's Supper |
| 1 Cor 11:30 | That is why many are weak and ill among you, and some have died. | Consequences of unworthy participation |
| Rom 14:13 | Let us then no longer pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or cause of falling in the way of a brother. | Consideration for fellow believers |
| 1 Cor 10:32 | Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, | Avoiding causing offense |
| Gal 5:9 | A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. | The spread of unrepentant sin |
| Matt 26:26 | Now as they were eating, Jesus took the bread, and after blessing, broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." | Institution of the Lord's Supper |
| Mark 14:22 | And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed and broken it, he gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." | Institution of the Lord's Supper |
| Luke 22:19 | And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." | Command to remember Christ |
| John 13:34 | 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. | Love as a prerequisite to communion |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined in the same mind and the same judgment. | Unity in the church |
| 1 Cor 10:16 | Does not the cup of blessing that we bless is not it a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? | Participation in Christ's body and blood |
| 1 Cor 11:22 | Have you not houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? No, in this I will not praise you. | Disruption of communal worship |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. | Consequences of unauthorized worship |
| Heb 10:26-27 | For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. | Persistent unrepentant sin |
| Eph 4:3 | Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Unity and peace in the body of Christ |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Sacrificial nature of believers |
| Rom 12:5 | So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually limbs for one another. | Unity in Christ's body |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church's devotion to fellowship |
| 1 Cor 12:27 | Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. | Believers as Christ's body |
| Eph 5:29-30 | for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are his body. | Christ's love for the church |
| Rev 19:9 | And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” | The ultimate communion feast |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 27 Meaning
To eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner means to partake in the Lord's Supper without proper reverence, respect, and understanding of its significance, potentially leading to spiritual harm. It is a call to self-examination before engaging in this sacred act.
1 Corinthians 11 27 Context
This verse is part of 1 Corinthians chapter 11, where Paul addresses issues of proper conduct in public worship, specifically concerning the Lord's Supper and the behavior of men and women. The Corinthian church was experiencing disorder, with divisions and improper practices related to how they celebrated communion. Some were partaking in a selfish and divisive manner, possibly associated with social status or class differences, leading to shame for the poorer members and a lack of unity. Paul is correcting these behaviors by reminding them of the institution and spiritual significance of the Lord's Supper.
1 Corinthians 11 27 Word Analysis
- hos (G3739): "Whoever" or "anyone." This indicates a universal application to all who participate.
- dechētai (G1209): "receives" or "eats and drinks." It describes the act of partaking.
- analgērōs (G3739): "unworthily" or "without proper consideration/discernment." This is a key term indicating the manner of participation. It's not about inherent worthiness, but about a reverent, self-examining approach.
- de: A conjunction often translated as "but" or "and."
- trōgō (G5200): "eats" (stronger than esthio, implying gnawing or munching, often used for rough eating, but here for breaking and eating).
- pinō (G4095): "drinks."
- kyriakou (G2960): "of the Lord." Denotes possession and authority, referring to the Lord's Supper.
- deipnou (G1173): "supper" or "meal." Refers specifically to the Lord's Supper.
Word-Group Analysis
- "dei de ton anthrōpon heauton dokimazein kai houtōs tou artou estein kai ek tou potēriou pi-nein": "But let a person examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." This is the positive instruction that follows the warning in verse 27. The emphasis is on introspection before communion.
- "hos d'an trōgē ton arton hē pinē to potērion tou Kyriou analgērōs": "Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner." This phrase is a direct conditional statement with a significant consequence outlined in the following verses.
1 Corinthians 11 27 Bonus Section
The concept of "unworthy participation" in ancient Near Eastern rituals or meals sometimes involved maintaining ritual purity or social decorum. Paul adapts this framework but reorients it towards spiritual discernment and unity within the Christian community. The Corinthian disorders likely involved a lack of recognition of the symbolic representation of Christ's body and blood, and how this communion represented their unity as the body of Christ. By participating "unworthily," they were effectively participating in their own judgment, implying a severing of connection with the Lord and the body of believers through their careless or divisive actions. The Lord's Supper is a memorial and a communion, calling for reflection on Christ's sacrifice and our incorporation into Him and one another.
1 Corinthians 11 27 Commentary
The verse is a stern warning against a casual or disrespectful approach to the Lord's Supper. "Unworthily" doesn't imply being sinless; rather, it means partaking without discerning the sacred nature of the meal, without self-examination for unconfessed sin, and without regard for the unity of the body of Christ. It is about the internal disposition of the heart and mind. The early church and subsequent Christian traditions have seen this as a critical instruction for maintaining spiritual health and communal integrity. Self-examination (dokimazō) means to test, approve, or discern, especially as a refiner tests metal.