What is Communion?
Relevant Scriptures
1 Corinthians 10:14–17
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
(ESV)
1 Corinthians 11:17–34
The Lord’s Supper
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,1 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for2 you. Do this in remembrance of me.”3 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 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. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.4 31 But if we judged5 ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined6 so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers,7 when you come together to eat, wait for8 one another—34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
Footnotes
[1] 11:18
Or I believe a certain report
[2] 11:24Some manuscripts broken for
[3] 11:24Or as my memorial; also verse 25
[4] 11:30Greek have fallen asleep (as in 15:6, 20)
[5] 11:31Or discerned
[6] 11:32Or when we are judged we are being disciplined by the Lord
[7] 11:33Or brothers and sisters
[8] 11:33Or share with (ESV)
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