1 Corinthians 11:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To partake of the bread and cup unworthily is to sin against the Lord's body and blood.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:27 Mean?
Paul draws a solemn conclusion from the meal's meaning. Because the bread and cup are so closely joined to the Lord Himself, to partake unworthily, in the careless, divisive way the Corinthians had, is to be guilty against His body and blood.
This is not meant to drive the trembling away from the table but to call the careless to reverence. The very greatness of what the supper holds means it cannot be treated lightly. To come with contempt for one's brothers and sisters, as the Corinthians had, is to dishonor the Lord whose love the meal proclaims. The warning is a summons to take the table seriously, approaching the One who gave His body and blood with the awe and love such a gift deserves.
1 Corinthians 11:27 in the Original Language
anaxios (ἀναξίως), 'unworthily' -- in an unfitting manner, without due reverence for what is received.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:27
What does 1 Corinthians 11:27 mean?
To partake of the bread and cup unworthily is to sin against the Lord's body and blood.