For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.
- KJV For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
- NKJV For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
- NASB For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not properly recognize the body.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever eats and drinks without discerning the Lord's body brings judgment on himself. Failing to recognize the meal's significance and the body of believers is serious.
Overview
Paul warns that careless participation invites divine judgment because it fails to 'discern the Lord's body.' This likely includes both recognizing the meal as Christ's body given for us and honoring the church as his body, which the Corinthians neglected by despising the poor. Reverent discernment of Christ and his people is essential to worthy participation.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 1 Cor 11:27Therefore, 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.
- Heb 5:14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
- 1 Cor 11:30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- 1 Cor 11:24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
- 1 Cor 11:32–34But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
- Eccl 8:5Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.
- Jas 5:12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
- Jas 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
- Rom 13:2Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 11:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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