1 Corinthians 11:20 Meaning and Explanation
“When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Their gatherings, as conducted, are no longer truly the Lord's Supper.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:20 Mean?
Paul names the heart of the failure. The Corinthians assemble in one place, but what they are doing is no longer the Lord's Supper in any real sense. The form remains, yet the substance has been lost through their selfishness.
This is a piercing word. It is possible to keep the outward shape of a sacred meal while emptying it of its meaning. The Lord's Supper is meant to bind believers as one in Him; when it becomes an occasion for division and self-indulgence, it ceases to be what its name claims. Paul calls them back to the reality behind the rite, reminding the church that holy things require a fitting heart, not merely the right gestures.
1 Corinthians 11:20 in the Original Language
kuriakos (κυριακός), 'Lord's' -- belonging to the Lord; the supper is His, not merely a meal of their own.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:20
What does 1 Corinthians 11:20 mean?
Their gatherings, as conducted, are no longer truly the Lord's Supper.