Introduction
Today we are going to take a break from our current study of Hebrews and turn to 1 Corinthians. Paul has several important instructions for the Corinthians concerning the Lord’s Supper. OPENING QUESTION: What have you been taught about the practice of communion as a sacrament of the church?
Passage Background
Let’s now turn to our passage for today, 1 Cor 11:17-34. As you are finding the passage allow me to share some background information. 1 Cor addresses numerous brought to Paul’s attention, most likely by Chole’s people (1 Cor 1:11) or perhaps some others, that had arisen since Paul planted the church in Corinth. 1 Cor 11:17-34 is part of a larger section of 1 Cor spanning 11:2-14:40 concerning instructions on orderly worship. Paul’s concern focuses on how the Corinthians come together to worship and how those practices reflect their faith. In this passage, Paul turns his attention to the practice of the Lord’s Supper. Our passage today breaks down into three sections, we will consider each section in turn beginning with 1 Cor 11:17-22. Would someone be willing to read 1 Cor 11:17-22 for us?
1 Cor 11:17-22 In order to fully understand this passage, we must first consider the cultural practices of first century Corinth. The early church did not meet in a …show more content…
The Corinthians are just practicing what was typical for the culture at the time. Bruce Winter points out that in Corinth there were two kinds of meals practiced, a private meal and a free meal. In a private meal those who attended brought their own food or paid towards the food served. Based on social status people would be served, the rich first and the rest second. In this case if you had no money or food to bring you would go without. Conversely, a free meal was a practice where the meal was equally divided up among all who attended. The private meal was the more common practice. Paul’s concern here is that the Corinthians view the Lord’s Supper as a private meal instead of a free
Today we are going to take a break from our current study of Hebrews and turn to 1 Corinthians. Paul has several important instructions for the Corinthians concerning the Lord’s Supper. OPENING QUESTION: What have you been taught about the practice of communion as a sacrament of the church?
Passage Background
Let’s now turn to our passage for today, 1 Cor 11:17-34. As you are finding the passage allow me to share some background information. 1 Cor addresses numerous brought to Paul’s attention, most likely by Chole’s people (1 Cor 1:11) or perhaps some others, that had arisen since Paul planted the church in Corinth. 1 Cor 11:17-34 is part of a larger section of 1 Cor spanning 11:2-14:40 concerning instructions on orderly worship. Paul’s concern focuses on how the Corinthians come together to worship and how those practices reflect their faith. In this passage, Paul turns his attention to the practice of the Lord’s Supper. Our passage today breaks down into three sections, we will consider each section in turn beginning with 1 Cor 11:17-22. Would someone be willing to read 1 Cor 11:17-22 for us?
1 Cor 11:17-22 In order to fully understand this passage, we must first consider the cultural practices of first century Corinth. The early church did not meet in a …show more content…
The Corinthians are just practicing what was typical for the culture at the time. Bruce Winter points out that in Corinth there were two kinds of meals practiced, a private meal and a free meal. In a private meal those who attended brought their own food or paid towards the food served. Based on social status people would be served, the rich first and the rest second. In this case if you had no money or food to bring you would go without. Conversely, a free meal was a practice where the meal was equally divided up among all who attended. The private meal was the more common practice. Paul’s concern here is that the Corinthians view the Lord’s Supper as a private meal instead of a free