1 Corinthians 11:29 kjv
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Corinthians 11:29 nkjv
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1 Corinthians 11:29 niv
For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
1 Corinthians 11:29 esv
For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1 Corinthians 11:29 nlt
For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself.
1 Corinthians 11 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 11:23 | For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus… | The institution of the Supper |
| 1 Cor 11:24 | ...this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. | Remembrance of Christ |
| 1 Cor 11:25 | …this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. | New Covenant in Christ's blood |
| 1 Cor 11:26 | For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. | Proclaiming Christ's death |
| 1 Cor 11:27 | Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner… | Unworthiness |
| Matt 10:38 | Whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. | Discipleship and worthiness |
| Luke 22:20 | …this cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you. | The Cup and the New Covenant |
| John 6:53 | So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. | Spiritual union with 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 prerequisite |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church practice |
| Acts 20:7 | On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began to address them… | Breaking bread in fellowship |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. | Presenting bodies as worship |
| Rom 12:5 | …so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. | Unity in the Body of Christ |
| Eph 4:1-3 | I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Walking worthy, unity |
| Eph 5:21 | Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. | Mutual submission |
| Col 1:24 | Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. | Suffering for the church body |
| Heb 10:29 | How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? | Contempt for Christ's sacrifice |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Pursuit of holiness |
| Heb 12:16 | See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled— | Avoiding defilement |
| 1 John 1:7 | But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Fellowship and cleansing |
| Rev 19:7 | Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready. | The Bride of Christ |
1 Corinthians 11 verses
1 Corinthians 11 29 Meaning
This verse addresses the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the spiritual discernment required for participation. It states that anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, without recognizing the body and blood of Christ, will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. The core meaning is that true communion requires understanding and respecting the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice represented in the Supper.
1 Corinthians 11 29 Context
First Corinthians chapter 11 addresses issues of worship and conduct in the church, specifically focusing on the practice of the Lord's Supper. Paul is correcting disorders and abuses that had crept into the Corinthian church. There were divisions and social disparities evident in their gatherings. Some were coming together, but not for the better, leading to impurity. The passage leading up to verse 29 describes the proper observance of the Supper, contrasting it with the improper and disruptive practices that were occurring. The "unworthy manner" refers to approaching the Lord's Supper with an attitude of spiritual indifference, divisiveness, or without recognizing its sacred nature and the communal body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11 29 Word Analysis
- ὃς ἂν (hos an): "Whoever." This introduces a conditional statement, referring to any individual.
- δείπνῃ (deipnē): "eats" (verb, 3rd person singular, subjunctive). From deipneō, to take an evening meal. In this context, it refers to eating the bread in the Lord's Supper.
- τὸ σκεῦος (to skeuos): "the cup" (noun, accusative singular). From skeuos, meaning a vessel, implement, or dish. Here, it refers to the cup used in the Supper.
- κύριος (kurios): "Lord" (noun, genitive singular). Referring to Jesus Christ.
- ἀναξίως (anaxíōs): "unworthily" (adverb). From anaxios, meaning unworthy or without proper appreciation. This is the key descriptor of the manner of eating and drinking.
- τὸ σῶμα (to sōma): "the body" (noun, accusative singular). Refers to the body of Christ.
- τὸ αἷμα (to haima): "the blood" (noun, accusative singular). Refers to the blood of Christ.
- γνοὺς (gnous): "recognizing" or "knowing" (participle, aorist active). From ginōskō, to know, perceive, understand. It implies a conscious awareness and acknowledgment.
- καταλύει (katalýei): "guilty of sinning against" or "destroys" (verb, 3rd person singular, present active). From katalyō, which can mean to break down, dissolve, destroy, or condemn. In this context, it signifies incurring guilt or judgment.
- γuéνος (genos): "sin" or "guilt" (noun, accusative singular). This refers to a crime or a debt. The individual becomes guilty.
Word Group Analysis:
- "eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner": This phrase encapsulates the improper approach to the communion. The "unworthy manner" is not primarily about one's inherent sinfulness before God, but about the attitude and spiritual condition during the Supper itself—a lack of reverence and understanding.
- "not discerning the body": This is crucial. It means failing to recognize that the bread and cup represent the body and blood of Christ and that participating in the Supper connects believers to Christ and to each other as members of His one body, the Church. This connects directly to the unity discussed earlier in the chapter and the divisiveness seen in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 11 29 Bonus Section
The Greek word skeuos (cup) used here, in contrast to poterion (cup or drinking vessel, as used in v. 25 and 27), might subtly highlight the "vessel" of communion, a sacred item. Some interpret "discern the body" as also relating to the unity of the church – to eat in an unworthy manner could be to do so while harboring strife and division within the body of Christ, thus not discerning that the meal is for a unified community. The verse strongly implies that the Lord's Supper is not a mere memorial but a living participation in Christ and His body, the Church.
1 Corinthians 11 29 Commentary
To partake in the Lord's Supper "unworthily" is to do so without acknowledging its profound spiritual meaning and the significance of Christ's sacrifice. It involves a failure to "discern the body," which means: 1) Not recognizing the bread and wine as representing Christ's broken body and shed blood. 2) Failing to perceive oneself as part of the one body of Christ, the Church, thereby disregarding unity and fellowship with fellow believers. Such a careless or contemptuous approach makes one "guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." This is not about being a perfect Christian to partake, but about coming with a reverent heart that acknowledges the preciousness of Christ's sacrifice and the unity of the body. The penalty is spiritual, leading to "sickness or many of you are weak, and an undue number have died" (v. 30), signifying divine judgment for profaning such a sacred ordinance.
- Practical Usage: Believers are called to examine their hearts before communion, confessing sin, seeking unity with brothers and sisters, and meditating on Christ's atoning sacrifice.