1 corinthians 11:21 - For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.

Generated Verse: 1 corinthians 11:21

What does "1 corinthians 11:21" mean?


This verse from 1 Corinthians 11:21 is part of Paul's rebuke of the Corinthian church regarding their observance of the Lord's Supper (also known as Holy Communion or the Eucharist). Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"For in your eating...": Paul is addressing how the Corinthian Christians were conducting their communal meals.

"...each one takes his own supper first.": This indicates a lack of unity and consideration for others. Instead of sharing the meal together as a community, people were rushing to eat their own portions, likely bringing their own food and consuming it selfishly, before everyone had arrived or had a chance to partake. This undermined the intended purpose of the Lord's Supper.

"One is hungry, and another is drunken.": This highlights the extreme disparity in their practice. Some were going hungry (possibly those who were poor or arrived late and the food was already gone), while others were becoming drunk (likely those who had brought a lot of wine and consumed it excessively). The Lord's Supper was intended to be a solemn and respectful memorial of Christ's sacrifice, but the Corinthians were turning it into a selfish and divisive feast.

In essence, Paul is criticizing the Corinthians for:

Selfishness: They were prioritizing their own needs and desires over the needs of others in the community.
Disunity: Their behavior was creating divisions between the rich and the poor, the early arrivers and the latecomers.
Disrespect: They were trivializing the sacred nature of the Lord's Supper by turning it into a drunken, gluttonous affair.

The verse reveals a profound misunderstanding of the Lord's Supper, which should be a time of:

Communion: Sharing a meal together as a unified body of believers.
Remembrance: Reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Self-examination: Assessing one's own life and relationship with God.
Love and concern for one another: Putting the needs of others before one's own.

Paul goes on to instruct them on how to properly observe the Lord's Supper in the verses that follow, emphasizing the importance of unity, reverence, and consideration for others.