1 Corinthians 11:28 Meaning and Explanation
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Each person should examine himself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
What Does 1 Corinthians 11:28 Mean?
Paul gives the remedy. Rather than approaching the table carelessly, each believer is to examine himself first, and then to eat and drink. The cure for unworthy partaking is honest self-searching before God.
This examination is not meant to torment but to prepare. It turns the heart inward and upward, asking whether we come in love toward God and our neighbor or in the very selfishness Paul has rebuked. Such searching is a gift, clearing the way to receive the supper rightly. The table is open to all who will come humbly; Paul does not bar the door but asks that we cross its threshold awake, having looked honestly at ourselves in the light of the One we are about to remember.
1 Corinthians 11:28 in the Original Language
dokimazo (δοκιμάζω), 'examine' -- to test or scrutinize in order to prove what is genuine.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 11:28
What does 1 Corinthians 11:28 mean?
Each person should examine himself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.