1 Corinthians 11:17-34 — A Passage Study
What this is: A passage-particular study of 1 Cor 11:17-34 — the Lord’s Supper passage in Paul. Not a question-driven SCAR project; the prior Meeting Structure study (2025, archived) already answered the meeting-structure question. This study has a different job: walk the passage carefully, surface what it opens, map the live positions without forcing one answer.
The passage at a glance:
“Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.” — 1 Corinthians 11:17 (KJV)
Four-movement shape:
| Movement | Verses | What Paul is doing |
|---|---|---|
| A. The problem at Corinth | 17-22 | Diagnosis: their gatherings make things worse |
| B. The tradition received | 23-26 | The dominical institution: what Paul received and delivered |
| C. Worthy participation | 27-32 | Pastoral consequence: how to come without bringing judgment |
| D. Practical ordering | 33-34 | Apostolic regulation: wait for one another; eat at home; the rest comes later |
The live cruxes:
- v. 19: “heresies must be… that they which are approved may be made manifest” — what does Paul mean?
- v. 20-22: was the Supper actually a full meal? (yes — see Historical Context)
- vv. 24-25: “this is my body / this cup is the new testament in my blood” — real presence vs. memorialism vs. spiritual presence
- v. 26: “till he come” — Supper as proclamation and anticipation
- v. 27: “unworthily” — what makes participation unworthy?
- v. 29: “discerning the body” — Christ’s body? the church body? both?
- v. 30: “many are weak and sickly… and many sleep” — does this still apply today?
- v. 34: “the rest will I set in order when I come” — what’s not in our text
Where to start:
- The text itself — KJV with translation comparison
- Historical context — what was actually happening at the Corinthian gathering
- The health question (v. 30) — the three live views on sickness, weakness, and discipline at the Table