Lord’s Supper or Lord-ly Meal?

In 1 Corinthians 11:20, Paul reproaches the Corinthians. However, contrary to common translations, his grievance is not that their meal was not “the Lord’s Supper” (Dutch NBG51 translation) or “the Lord’s dinner” (Dutch St.Vert. translation). Such renderings suggest that the Corinthians gathered for a special kind of meal instituted by the Lord. This idea has led to the church practice of regularly celebrating a ritual that can hardly be called a meal, as only a tiny piece of bread is eaten and a small sip of wine (or grape juice) is drunk. This is considered a replica of what the Lord once celebrated on the night He was betrayed.

Lord-ly

However, the entire concept of “the Lord’s Supper” is certainly not what Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 11. The Corinthians came together to eat a meal (11:33). But Paul had heard (11:18) that there were quite a few abuses during these meals. One was drunk, another was hungry; one had plenty, another had nothing (11:20). Paul disapproves of this conduct—not because it wasn’t “the Lord’s Supper,” but because such a manner of eating together was not “of the Lord.” Literally, it states that such a meal was not “Lord-ly,” i.e., fitting for the Lord.

Worthy

The instructions the apostle subsequently gives are aimed at ensuring that one would eat and drink “worthily.” This does not mean, as many churches have interpreted, that one should examine oneself to determine if one is qualified to partake. Rather, “worthily” refers to the manner in which one eats together—considering and waiting for one another (11:33).

This is my body – the ekklesia!

Paul also introduces something else: he had received from the Lord (11:23) that when the Lord celebrated a Passover meal with His disciples (i.e., unleavened), He said of the bread He distributed, “this is my body” (11:24). Paul teaches that this also refers to the ekklesia, which is one Body!

For we, the many, are one bread, one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
—1 Corinthians 10:17

When believers gather to eat together, it is obviously not a Passover meal, as that is exclusively for Israel (Ex.12:43). Nor is it “the Lord’s Supper.” But they can certainly celebrate their meals in a “Lord-ly” manner—remembering and giving thanks that they together form one Body, and jointly lifting the cup as a symbol of the Lord-ly victory over death!

Delen: