1 Corinthians 11:27

1 Corinthians 11:27

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.

a. NLT: So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

b. NIV: So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

c. YLT: so that whoever may eat this bread or may drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, guilty he shall be of the body and blood of the Lord:

d. Amplified Bible Classic: So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.

e. Worrell Translation: Therefore, whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body, and blood of the Lord.

1. “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread…”

a. wherefore [5620 * hoste] [Strong: from 5613 and 5037; so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow):--(insomuch) as, so that (then), (insomuch) that, therefore, to, wherefore.]

b. whosoever [3739 * hos; including feminine he; and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. [302 * an] [Strong: a primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty:--(what-, where-, wither-, who-)soever. Usually unexpressed except by the subjunctive or potential mood.]

d. shall eat [2068 * esthio] [Strong: strengthened for a primary edo (to eat); used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by 5315; to eat (usually literal):--devour, eat, live.]

e. this [5126 * touton] [Strong: accusative case singular masculine of 3778; this (person, as objective of verb or preposition):--him, the same, that, this.]

f. bread [740 * artos] [Strong: from 142; bread (as raised) or a loaf:--(shew-)bread, loaf.]

2. “…and drink this cup of the Lord…”

a. and [2228 * e] [Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

b. drink [4095 * pino] [Strong: a prolonged form of pio pee'-o, which (together with another form) poo po'-o occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--drink.]

c. this cup [4221 * poterion] [Strong: neuter of a derivative of the alternate of 4095; a drinking-vessel; by extension, the contents thereof, i.e. a cupful (draught); figuratively, a lot or fate:--cup.]

d. of the Lord [2962 * kurios] [Strong: from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

3. “…unworthily…”

a. unworthily [371 * anaxios] [Strong: adverb from 370; irreverently:--unworthily.] [Thayer: in an unworthy manner] [Vine: treating it as a common meal, the bread and cup as common things, not apprehending their solemn symbolic importance.] [Zodhiates: Unworthily, irreverently, in an unbecoming manner, treating the Lord’s Supper as a common meal without attributing to it its elements their proper value.]

1). According to Blue Letter Bible this Greek word is only used twice in the NT, 1 Corinthians 11:27, 29.

4. “…shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”

a. shall be [2071 * esomai][Strong: future of 1510; will be:--shall (should) be (have), (shall) come (to pass), X may have, X fall, what would follow, X live long, X sojourn.]

b. guilty [1777 * enochos] [Strong:  from 1758; liable to (a condition, penalty or imputation):--in danger of, guilty of, subject to.] [Zodiates: Held in, contained in…meaning bound, subject or liable to …guilty, deserving of and subject to punishment.] [Vine: is used in the sense of being in "danger" of the penal effect of a misdeed, i.e., in a forensic sense, signifying the connection of a person with…the person or thing against whom or which the offense is committed, 1 Corinthians 11:27, "guilty," the crime being against "the body and blood of the Lord;"] [Thayer: one who is held in anything, so that he cannot escape; bound; under obligation, subject to, liable…] [Outline of Biblical usage: bound, under obligation, subject to, liable, used of one who is held by, possessed with love, and zeal for anything, in a forensic sense, denoting the connection of a person either with his crime, or with the penalty or trial, or with that against whom or which he has offended, guilty, worthy of punishment, guilty of anything, of the crime, of the penalty, liable to this or that tribunal i.e. the punishment to by imposed by this or that tribunal, of the place where punishment is to be suffered.]

c. of the body [4983 * soma] [Strong: from 4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively:--bodily, body, slave.]

d. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

e. blood [129 * haima] [Strong: of uncertain derivation; blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of Christ); by implication, bloodshed, also kindred:--blood.]

f. of the Lord [2962 * kurios] [Strong: from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

1). The context of this passage and its wording is extremely important. It seems the first verses of this passage, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 show the positive side and wonderful benefits of taking communion where the last verses of the passage, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 show the negative, or the dangers of not taking it as seriously as needed.

2). 1 Corinthians 11:27 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.

11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.