The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 11:20 Explained

1 Corinthians 11:20

KJV: When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

YLT: ye, then, coming together at the same place -- it is not to eat the Lord's supper;

Darby: When ye come therefore together into one place, it is not to eat the Lord's supper.

ASV: When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord's supper:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When ye  come together  therefore  into  one place,  [this] is  not  to eat  the Lord's  supper. 

What does 1 Corinthians 11:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In the Christian church"s early years the Lord"s Supper occupied a more central position in the life of local assemblies than it does in most churches today. The early believers often celebrated it daily or weekly (cf. Acts 2:42-46; Acts 20:7). However, it was just as impossible to observe this feast properly in an atmosphere of social discrimination as it was to do so while also attending feasts that honored idols ( 1 Corinthians 10:21).

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 11:11-22 - Unity And Order In Public Assembly
The power on a woman's head in 1 Corinthians 11:10 probably refers to the veil or covering which the Grecian woman assumed at marriage as the sign that she was not free from the sacred ties and duties of wedlock. In Paul's thought of the matter, therefore, it was unseemly for the Christian matron to lay this aside. He conceded the absolute freedom and equality of male and female in Christ, and yet he stood for the observance of the best customs of the age, lest the gospel should be brought into disrepute. The women, therefore, must veil their heads in the Christian assemblies as the angels veil their faces in the presence of God.
The uncovered face of man is to the glory of God, but the covered face of woman recognizes that she finds her glory in her husband's love and care. Each is dependent on the other-the man on God, and the wife on her spouse. These precepts and reasons are somewhat foreign to modern thought, but at least we must notice that there was no subject too trivial-even the headdress-to be brought into subjection to Christ and related to the great principle of His supreme Headship and Lordship. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 11

1  He reproves them, because in holy assemblies,
4  their men prayed with their heads covered,
6  and women with their heads uncovered;
17  and because generally their meetings were not for the better, but for the worse;
21  as, namely, in profaning with their own feast the Lord's supper
25  Lastly, he calls them to the first institution thereof

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 11:20

To eat the Lord‘s Supper [Κυριακον δειπνον παγειν]
Κυριακος — Kuriakos adjective from Κυριος — Kurios belonging to or pertaining to the Lord, is not just a biblical or ecclesiastical word, for it is found in the inscriptions and papyri in the sense of imperial (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 358), as imperial finance, imperial treasury. It is possible that here the term applies both to the Αγαπη — Agapē or Love-feast (a sort of church supper or club supper held in connection with, before or after, the Lord‘s Supper) and the Eucharist or Lord‘s Supper. Δειπνον — Deipnon so common in the Gospels, only here in Paul. The selfish conduct of the Corinthians made it impossible to eat a Lord‘s Supper at all. [source]
This is not [οὐκ ἔστιν]
Rev., correctly, it is not possible. [source]
The Lord's Supper [κυριακὸν δεῖπνον]
The emphasis is on Lord's. Δεῖπνον supperrepresented the principal meal of the day, answering to the late dinner. The Eucharist proper was originally celebrated as a private expression of devotion, and in connection with a common, daily meal, an agape or love-feast. In the apostolic period it was celebrated daily. The social and festive character of the meal grew largely out of the gentile institution of clubs or fraternities, which served as savings-banks, mutual-help societies, insurance offices, and which expressed and fostered the spirit of good-fellowship by common festive meals, usually in gardens, round an altar of sacrifice. The communion-meal of the first and second centuries exhibited this character in being a feast of contribution, to which each brought his own provision. It also perpetuated the Jewish practice of the college of priests for the temple-service dining at a common table on festivals or Sabbaths, and of the schools of the Pharisees in their ordinary life. Indications of the blending of the eucharistic celebration with a common meal are found here, Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7, and more obscurely, Acts 27:35. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 11:20

Acts 1:15 Multitude of persons [οχλος ονοματων]
Literally, multitude of names. This Hebraistic use of ονομα — onoma = person occurs in the lxx (Numbers 1:2; 18:20; 3:40, 43; 26:53) and in Revelation 3:4; Revelation 11:13. Together (επι το αυτο — epi to auto). The word “gathered” is not in the Greek here, but it does occur in Matthew 22:34 and that is undoubtedly the idea in Luke 17:35 as in Acts 2:1, Acts 2:44, Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 11:20; 1 Corinthians 14:23. So also here. They were in the same place (το αυτο — to auto). About a hundred and twenty A crowd for “the upper room.” No special significance in the number 120, just the number there. [source]
Acts 1:15 Together [επι το αυτο]
The word “gathered” is not in the Greek here, but it does occur in Matthew 22:34 and that is undoubtedly the idea in Luke 17:35 as in Acts 2:1, Acts 2:44, Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 11:20; 1 Corinthians 14:23. So also here. They were in the same place (το αυτο — to auto). [source]
Acts 2:42 Fellowship [κοινωνιαι]
Old word from κοινωνος — Koinōnos (partner, sharer in common interest) and this from κοινος — Koinos what is common to all. This partnership involves participation in, as the blood of Christ (Philemon 2:1) or co-operation in the work of the gospel (Philemon 1:5) or contribution for those in need (2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13). Hence there is wide diversity of opinion concerning the precise meaning of κοινωνια — Koinōnia in this verse. It may refer to the distribution of funds in Acts 2:44 or to the oneness of spirit in the community of believers or to the Lord‘s Supper (as in 1 Corinthians 10:16) in the sense of communion or to the fellowship in the common meals or αγαπαε — agapae (love-feasts). The breaking of bread (τηι κλασει του αρτου — tēi klasei tou artou). The word κλασις — klasis is an old word, but used only by Luke in the N.T. (Luke 24:35; Acts 2:42), though the verb κλαω — klaō occurs in other parts of the N.T. as in Acts 2:46. The problem here is whether Luke refers to the ordinary meal as in Luke 24:35 or to the Lord‘s Supper. The same verb κλαω — klaō is used of breaking bread at the ordinary meal (Luke 24:30) or the Lord‘s Supper (Luke 22:19). It is generally supposed that the early disciples attached so much significance to the breaking of bread at the ordinary meals, more than our saying grace, that they followed the meal with the Lord‘s Supper at first, a combination called αγαπαι — agapai or love-feasts. “There can be no doubt that the Eucharist at this period was preceded uniformly by a common repast, as was the case when the ordinance was instituted” (Hackett). This led to some abuses as in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Hence it is possible that what is referred to here is the Lord‘s Supper following the ordinary meal. “To simply explain τηι κλασει του αρτου — tēi klasei tou artou as=‹The Holy Communion‘ is to pervert the plain meaning of words, and to mar the picture of family life, which the text places before us as the ideal of the early believers” (Page). But in Acts 20:7 they seem to have come together especially for the observance of the Lord‘s Supper. Perhaps there is no way to settle the point conclusively here. The prayers Services where they prayed as in Acts 1:14, in the temple (Acts 3:1), in their homes (Acts 4:23). [source]
Acts 2:42 The breaking of bread [τηι κλασει του αρτου]
The word κλασις — klasis is an old word, but used only by Luke in the N.T. (Luke 24:35; Acts 2:42), though the verb κλαω — klaō occurs in other parts of the N.T. as in Acts 2:46. The problem here is whether Luke refers to the ordinary meal as in Luke 24:35 or to the Lord‘s Supper. The same verb κλαω — klaō is used of breaking bread at the ordinary meal (Luke 24:30) or the Lord‘s Supper (Luke 22:19). It is generally supposed that the early disciples attached so much significance to the breaking of bread at the ordinary meals, more than our saying grace, that they followed the meal with the Lord‘s Supper at first, a combination called αγαπαι — agapai or love-feasts. “There can be no doubt that the Eucharist at this period was preceded uniformly by a common repast, as was the case when the ordinance was instituted” (Hackett). This led to some abuses as in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Hence it is possible that what is referred to here is the Lord‘s Supper following the ordinary meal. “To simply explain τηι κλασει του αρτου — tēi klasei tou artou as=‹The Holy Communion‘ is to pervert the plain meaning of words, and to mar the picture of family life, which the text places before us as the ideal of the early believers” (Page). But in Acts 20:7 they seem to have come together especially for the observance of the Lord‘s Supper. Perhaps there is no way to settle the point conclusively here. [source]
Acts 20:7 When we were gathered together [συνηγμενων ημων]
Genitive absolute, perfect passive participle of συναγω — sunagō to gather together, a formal meeting of the disciples. See this verb used for gatherings of disciples in Acts 4:31; Acts 11:26; Acts 14:27; Acts 15:6, Acts 15:30; Acts 19:7, Acts 19:8; 1 Corinthians 5:4. In Hebrews 10:25 the substantive επισυναγωγην — episunagōgēn is used for the regular gatherings which some were already neglecting. It is impossible for a church to flourish without regular meetings even if they have to meet in the catacombs as became necessary in Rome. In Russia today the Soviets are trying to break up conventicles of Baptists. They probably met on our Saturday evening, the beginning of the first day at sunset. So these Christians began the day (Sunday) with worship. But, since this is a Gentile community, it is quite possible that Luke means our Sunday evening as the time when this meeting occurs, and the language in John 20:19 “it being evening on that day the first day of the week” naturally means the evening following the day, not the evening preceding the day. To break bread (κλασαι αρτον — klasai arton). First aorist active infinitive of purpose of κλαω — klaō The language naturally bears the same meaning as in Acts 2:42, the Eucharist or the Lord‘s Supper which usually followed the Αγαπη — Agapē See note on 1 Corinthians 10:16. The time came, when the Αγαπη — Agapē was no longer observed, perhaps because of the abuses noted in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Rackham argues that the absence of the article with bread here and its presence (τον αρτον — ton arton) in Acts 20:11 shows that the Αγαπη — Agapē is ] referred to in Acts 20:7 and the Eucharist in Acts 20:11, but not necessarily so because τον αρτον — ton arton may merely refer to αρτον — arton in Acts 20:7. At any rate it should be noted that Paul, who conducted this service, was not a member of the church in Troas, but only a visitor. Discoursed Imperfect middle because he kept on at length. Intending (μελλω — mellō). Being about to, on the point of. On the morrow Locative case with ημεραι — hēmerāi understood after the adverb επαυριον — epaurion If Paul spoke on our Saturday evening, he made the journey on the first day of the week (our Sunday) after sunrise. If he spoke on our Sunday evening, then he left on our Monday morning. Prolonged his speech (Παρετεινεν τον λογον — Pareteinen ton logon). Imperfect active (same form as aorist) of παρατεινω — parateinō old verb to stretch beside or lengthwise, to prolong. Vivid picture of Paul‘s long sermon which went on and on till midnight (μεχρι μεσονυκτιου — mechri mesonuktiou). Paul‘s purpose to leave early next morning seemed to justify the long discourse. Preachers usually have some excuse for the long sermon which is not always clear to the exhausted audience. [source]
Acts 20:7 To break bread [κλασαι αρτον]
First aorist active infinitive of purpose of κλαω — klaō The language naturally bears the same meaning as in Acts 2:42, the Eucharist or the Lord‘s Supper which usually followed the Αγαπη — Agapē See note on 1 Corinthians 10:16. The time came, when the Αγαπη — Agapē was no longer observed, perhaps because of the abuses noted in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Rackham argues that the absence of the article with bread here and its presence (τον αρτον — ton arton) in Acts 20:11 shows that the Αγαπη — Agapē is ] referred to in Acts 20:7 and the Eucharist in Acts 20:11, but not necessarily so because τον αρτον — ton arton may merely refer to αρτον — arton in Acts 20:7. At any rate it should be noted that Paul, who conducted this service, was not a member of the church in Troas, but only a visitor. [source]
1 Corinthians 11:29 Not discerning [μὴ διακρίνων]
Rev., if he discern not, bringing out the conditional force of the negative particle. The verb primarily means to separate, and hence to make a distinction, discriminate. Rev., in margin, discriminating. Such also is the primary meaning of discern (discernere to part or separate ), so that discerning implies a mental act of discriminating between different things. So Bacon: “Nothing more variable than voices, yet men can likewise discern these personally.” This sense has possibly become a little obscured in popular usage. From this the transition is easy and natural to the sense of doubting, disputing, judging, all of these involving the recognition of differences. The object of the discrimination here referred to, may, I think, be regarded as complex. After Paul's words (1 Corinthians 11:20, 1 Corinthians 11:22), about the degradation of the Lord's Supper, the discrimination between the Lord's body and common food may naturally be contemplated; but further, such discernment of the peculiar significance and sacredness of the Lord's body as shall make him shrink from profanation and shall stimulate him to penitence and faith. [source]
1 Corinthians 10:21 The Lord's table []
Representing the Lord's Supper. See 1 Corinthians 11:20sqq. The Greeks and Romans, on extraordinary occasions, placed images of the gods reclining on couches, with tables and food beside them, as if really partakers of the things offered in sacrifice. Diodorus, describing the temple of Bel at Babylon, mentions a large table of beaten gold, forty feet by fifteen, standing before the colossal statues of three deities. Upon it were two drinking-cups. See, also, the story of “Bel and the Dragon,” vv. 10-15. The sacredness of the table in heathen worship is apparent from the manner in which it is combined with the altar in solemn formulae; as ara et mensa. Allusions to the table or to food and drink-offerings in honor of heathen deities occur in the Old Testament: Isaiah 65:11; Jeremiah 7:18; Ezekiel 16:18, Ezekiel 16:19; Ezekiel 23:41. In Malachi 1:7, the altar of burnt-offering is called “the table of the Lord.” [source]
1 Corinthians 11:28 Let a man prove himself [δοκιμαζετω αντρωπος εαυτον]
Test himself as he would a piece of metal to see if genuine. Such examination of one‘s motives would have made impossible the disgraceful scenes in 1 Corinthians 11:20. [source]
Revelation 1:10 On the Lord‘s Day [εν τηι κυριακηι ημεραι]
Deissmann has proven (Bible Studies, p. 217f.; Light, etc., p. 357ff.) from inscriptions and papyri that the word κυριακος — kuriakos was in common use for the sense “imperial” as imperial finance and imperial treasury and from papyri and ostraca that ημερα Σεβαστη — hēmera Sebastē (Augustus Day) was the first day of each month, Emperor‘s Day on which money payments were made (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1.). It was easy, therefore, for the Christians to take this term, already in use, and apply it to the first day of the week in honour of the Lord Jesus Christ‘s resurrection on that day (Didache 14, Ignatius Magn. 9). In the N.T. the word occurs only here and 1 Corinthians 11:20 It has no reference to ημερα κυριου — hēmera kuriou (the day of judgment, 2 Peter 3:10).Behind me (οπισω μου — opisō mou). “The unexpected, overpowering entrance of the divine voice” (Vincent). Cf. Ezekiel 3:12.Voice Of Christ, as is plain in Revelation 1:12.As of a trumpet (ως σαλπιγγος — hōs salpiggos). So in Revelation 4:1 referring to this.Saying Present active participle genitive case agreeing with σαλπιγγος — salpiggos rather than λεγουσαν — legousan accusative agreeing with πωνην — phōnēn So on purpose, as is clear from Revelation 4:1, where λαλουσης — lalousēs also agrees with σαλπιγγος — salpiggos f0). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 11:20 mean?

Coming therefore of you together in one place not it is [the] Lord’s supper to eat
Συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν

Συνερχομένων  Coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: συνέρχομαι  
Sense: to come together.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἐπὶ  together 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
τὸ  in  one 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αὐτὸ  place 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἔστιν  it  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
κυριακὸν  [the]  Lord’s 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: κυριακός  
Sense: belonging to the Lord.
δεῖπνον  supper 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: δεῖπνον 
Sense: supper, especially a formal meal usually held at the evening,.
φαγεῖν  to  eat 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἐσθίω  
Sense: to eat.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Corinthians 11:20?

Loading Information...