1 Corinthians 11:23 Meaning and Explanation
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On the night He was handed over to die, Jesus took bread, and that table has been kept among His people ever since.
The Context of 1 Corinthians 11:23
Paul is correcting the Corinthians, who had been treating the Lord's Supper carelessly and selfishly. To remind them what it truly is, he passes on the account of that first supper, the earliest written record we have of what Jesus did that night.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:23 Mean?
Paul uses the careful words of handing on a sacred trust: what he "received of the Lord" he "delivered" to them. Then he sets the scene with quiet weight. It was "the same night in which he was betrayed." On the very night a friend sold Him and the cross drew near, Jesus reached for bread. He was not caught off guard or paralyzed by grief; in full knowledge of what was coming, He turned to His friends and gave. The betrayal and the bread sit side by side in one sentence, darkness and love in the same breath.
There is something deeply moving in this timing. On His worst night, Jesus was thinking of us, leaving a table where we could remember Him. The bread He took points to His body, soon to be given for our sake. Every time His people gather at this table, they are drawn back into that room and that love. The same Lord who gave Himself on the night He was betrayed still meets us here, and still gives.
1 Corinthians 11:23 in the Original Language
paredidoto (παρεδίδετο), 'betrayed' -- was handed over or delivered up, the same verb used for passing something on.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 11:23 Today
This verse steadies us with the timing of Jesus' love: on the night of His betrayal, His thoughts were turned toward us. Whatever darkness surrounds us, He has already shown that He gives Himself even there. When we come to His table, we are welcomed back into that room, remembering the One whose body was given for us.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:23
What does 1 Corinthians 11:23 mean?
On the night He was handed over to die, Jesus took bread, and that table has been kept among His people ever since.
What is the context of 1 Corinthians 11:23?
Paul is correcting the Corinthians, who had been treating the Lord's Supper carelessly and selfishly. To remind them what it truly is, he passes on the account of that first supper, the earliest written record we have of what Jesus did that night.
How can I apply 1 Corinthians 11:23 today?
This verse steadies us with the timing of Jesus' love: on the night of His betrayal, His thoughts were turned toward us. Whatever darkness surrounds us, He has already shown that He gives Himself even there. When we come to His table, we are welcomed back into that room, remembering the One whose body was given for us.