Understanding 1 Corinthians 11:29: Properly Judging the Body in Spiritual Fellowship

In its context, 1 Corinthians 11:29 is deeply rooted in the letter's call for spiritual discernment and the proper evaluation of actions within the early Christian community. The passage calls attention to the importance of proper discernment (diakrino) when partaking in the Lord's Supper, a practice essential to early Christian worship.

Contextual Insights

The verse: 'For he who eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.' translates to: For he who eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not diakrino the body rightly. Here, diakrino signifies to properly discern, judge, or evaluate something. The body used in this verse specifically refers to the church.

This is underscored by the parallel in verse 31, where Paul instructs the believers to rightly judge ourselves. The phrase the body is equated with ourselves here indicates that the church, as a body of believers, represents the collective identity and unity of all members.

Historical and Social Context

The problem at the heart of 1 Corinthians 11:29 pertains to socio-economic divisions among Early Christians. Rich members of the church were found observing an irregular practice known as love feasts (or agape meals), which involved pot-lucks. These rich members would arrive at the church before the poor and ate all the food, leaving the poor members with nothing. This act of exclusion and abuse of power resulted in a profound manifestation of inequality and division within the church.

According to 1 Corinthians 11:21-22, the rich members would partake in the Lord's Supper as if nothing was amiss. However, Paul vehemently refutes this, declaring that such actions bring judgment to themselves. The passage explicitly states that when these individuals eat and drink the bread and cup of the Lord's Supper, they are not truly partaking in a spirit of unity and mutual respect. Instead, they consume judgment, as they fail to properly discern and value their fellow believers.

The Significance of Communion

Backtracking to 1 Corinthians 10:17, Paul highlights the significance of the Lord's Supper. The shared bread in the Lord's Supper symbolizes the unity and oneness of the church. Since there is one bread we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. This unity is a core principle that should be upheld by all members of the church.

Therefore, the act of sharing the Lord's Supper is not just a ritual but a solemn affirmation of this collective identity. It is impossible to properly partake of the Lord's Supper while harboring belittling, malicious, or discriminatory attitudes towards one's fellow believers. Such attitudes disqualify believers from enjoying the full benefits of the Lord's Supper.

Conclusion

In the context of 1 Corinthians 11:29, Paul emphasizes the importance of proper discernment and unity within the early Christian community. The passage teaches that the Lord's Supper is a symbol of collective Christian identity and values. Any act that divides the church or disparages fellow believers brings judgment upon those who partake.

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References

1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 11:21-22, 1 Corinthians 11:29. The ESV Bible.