1 Corinthians 11:28 kjv
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28 nkjv
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28 niv
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28 esv
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Corinthians 11:28 nlt
That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
1 Corinthians 11 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 11:27 | 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. | Examines sinning against the body and blood. |
| 1 Cor 11:29 | For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. | Highlights recognition of the body and its consequence. |
| Acts 17:11 | Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. | Shows the importance of self-examination and testing. |
| Luke 22:19 | And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” | Command to remember Christ's body and sacrifice. |
| John 6:53 | Then Jesus declared, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” | Connects partaking with spiritual life and union. |
| 1 Cor 10:16 | Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? | Emphasizes communion and participation. |
| Gal 5:1-3 | It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. | Encourages freedom in Christ and guarding against legalism. |
| 1 Peter 3:7 | Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat your wife with honor as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may hinder your prayers. | Points to honorable conduct in relationships, implying purity. |
| 2 Cor 13:5 | Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? | Direct command to examine oneself regarding faith. |
| Romans 12:1 | Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and ultimate worship. | Urges presenting oneself holy, a parallel to worthy participation. |
| Ephesians 5:21 | Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. | Promotes mutual submission, reflecting communal harmony needed for communion. |
| Hebrews 12:14 | Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. | Links peace, holiness, and seeing the Lord. |
| Matthew 7:12 | So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. | Ethical conduct impacting communal worship. |
| 1 John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. | The way to cleanse oneself before God. |
| John 13:34-35 | “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” | Love as the identifying mark of disciples, relevant to communal worship. |
| Psalm 34:8 | Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. | Encourages experiential knowledge of God's goodness. |
| Proverbs 4:23 | Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. | Emphasizes the internal state for outward actions. |
| Isaiah 58:6 | “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every bottle up? | True worship connected to justice and liberation. |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. | Love's role in covering sins within the community. |
| Galatians 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 in Christ, which is to be reflected in communion. |
| Matthew 26:26 | While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” | The institution of the Lord's Supper. |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons too. | The exclusivity of allegiance to the Lord. |
| Mark 14:22 | While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” | Another account of the institution. |
| Romans 14:13 | Therefore let us stop passing judgment on each other. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother or sister. | Importance of considering others and not causing offense. |
| 1 Cor 10:17 | Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, form one body; for we are all taking part in that one loaf. | The body of Christ as unity symbolized by one loaf. |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 28 Meaning
This verse is an exhortation for believers to examine themselves and participate in the Lord's Supper worthily, ensuring their preparation and discerning the body of Christ, which prevents them from partaking in a way that leads to judgment.
1 Corinthians 11 28 Context
First Corinthians chapter 11 addresses issues of order and propriety in worship, specifically focusing on the practices of the Lord's Supper and head coverings. Paul is dealing with divisions and misunderstandings within the Corinthian church that are leading to improper conduct. In this particular section, he is correcting their practices regarding the Lord's Supper, emphasizing that it is not merely a social meal but a sacred commemoration of Christ's sacrifice. The emphasis is on unity, self-examination, and reverent remembrance. The previous verses (11:23-26) establish the institution of the Lord's Supper by Christ himself and its purpose: to remember His death. This verse, therefore, follows as a direct instruction on how to approach this sacred ordinance, lest their participation bring condemnation rather than spiritual edification.
1 Corinthians 11 28 Word Analysis
- Δοκιμαζέτω (dokimazeto): "Let him test." (Present imperative, middle voice). Implies a continuous, ongoing self-examination. Not a one-time check, but a habit. From dokimazo (to test, approve, examine). The middle voice suggests the action is done for oneself.
- δὲ (de): "but." Connects this instruction to the preceding warning.
- ἄνθρωπος (anthropos): "a person," "a man." Refers to any individual believer partaking.
- εαυτον (heauton): "himself." Emphasizes personal responsibility in the examination.
- ἐν (en): "in." Indicates the sphere or manner of examination.
- ἑαυτῷ (heauto): "to himself," "for himself." Reinforces personal introspection.
- πειραζέτω (peirazeto): "let him examine." (Present imperative, middle voice). Similar to dokimazeto, it means to try, test, examine closely. It speaks to proving oneself or probing one's own spiritual condition. It implies looking inward to ascertain worthiness.
- καὶ (kai): "and." Joins the two actions of examination.
- οὕτως (houtos): "so," "thus." Refers to the manner of eating and drinking after the examination.
- ἐσθιέτω (esthieto): "let him eat." (Present imperative, middle voice). Commands the act of eating.
- ἐκ (ek): "from." Suggests the source or that from which the bread is taken.
- τοῦ ἄρτου (tou artou): "the bread." The physical element of the supper.
- καὶ (kai): "and." Connects eating and drinking.
- πινέτω (pineto): "let him drink." (Present imperative, middle voice). Commands the act of drinking.
- ἐκ (ek): "from."
- τοῦ ποτηρίου (tou poteriou): "the cup." The second physical element.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Δοκιμαζέτω δὲ ἄνθρωπος ἑαυτὸν (dokimazeto de anthropos heauton): This initial phrase "Let a person examine himself" is the core imperative. The conjunction "de" links it as a response to potential unworthiness mentioned in the prior verses. The repetition of "heauton" stresses introspection and self-awareness.
- καὶ οὕτως ἐσθιέτω ἐκ τοῦ ἄρτου καὶ πινέτω ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου (kai outos esthieto ek tou artou kai pineto ek tou poteriou): This forms a conditional statement. "And so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." The "houtos" signifies that the eating and drinking should follow the self-examination, and be done in that manner (i.e., after proper examination). It establishes a sequence: examine, then partake.
1 Corinthians 11 28 Bonus Section
The dual emphasis on "δοκιμαζέτω" (dokimazeto - test) and "πειραζέτω" (peirazeto - examine/try) highlights the thoroughness required. Dokimazo often relates to proving the genuine quality of something or someone, while peirazo can involve testing or attempting. Together, they convey a need for a deep, introspective process of evaluation concerning one's faith, alignment with God's will, and unity with the body of Christ, which is foundational to a worthy participation in the Supper. The instruction to do this for oneself is significant in a communal worship setting, guarding against merely following tradition without personal conviction or awareness. This principle of personal responsibility in approaching sacred ordinances is a recurring theme throughout scripture.
1 Corinthians 11 28 Commentary
This verse provides a critical instruction for the Lord's Supper. Believers are not to participate thoughtlessly. They must actively test their own hearts and spiritual state. This involves discerning their readiness, ensuring their conduct aligns with Christ's teachings, and recognizing the profound spiritual reality being commemorated – the body and blood of Christ. The act of partaking must be rooted in a personal awareness of one's relationship with God, purity, and accountability to Christ's sacrifice. The examination is about ensuring one's life and attitude are in harmony with the sacredness of the event, leading to spiritual benefit rather than condemnation. This personal accountability is vital for maintaining the sanctity and meaning of this central Christian practice.
Practical usage examples:
- Before coming to communion, spend time reflecting on your relationship with God and fellow believers.
- Confess any known sins and seek God's forgiveness, ensuring your heart is right before Him.
- Meditate on the meaning of Christ's body broken and His blood shed for you.