1 Corinthians 11:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

In this passage the apostle sharply rebukes them for much greater disorders than the former, in their partaking of the Lord's supper, which was commonly done in the first ages, as the ancients tell us, with a love-feast annexed, which gave occasion to the scandalous disorders which the apostle here reprehends, concerning which observe, I. The manner in which he introduces his charge: ?Now in this that I declare to you I praise you not, Rom. 11:17. I cannot commend, but must blame and condemn... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

11:17-22 When I give you this instruction, I am not praising you, because when you meet together it is actually doing you more harm than good. Firstly, I hear that when you meet together in assembly, there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it. There are bound to be differences of opinion among you, so that it may become clear which of you are of tried and sterling quality. So then when you assemble together in the same place it is certainly not the Lord's meal that you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:20

When ye come together therefore into one place ,.... Though επι το αυτο does not signify so much the unity of the place, as of the persons meeting together, and their conjunction; so the phrase is used by the Septuagint, in Deuteronomy 25:11 , yet it supposes a place where the church were wont to assemble for divine worship; this is not to eat the Lord's supper : their view in coming together was not so much to celebrate the supper of the Lord, as to partake of their own supper,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:20

This is not to eat the Lord's Supper - They did not come together to eat the Lord's Supper exclusively, which they should have done, and not have made it a part of an ordinary meal. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:20

Verse 20 20.This is not to eat the Lord’s supper He now reproves the abuse that had crept in among the Corinthians as to the Lord’s Supper, in respect of their mixing up profane banquets with the sacred and spiritual feast, and that too with contempt of the poor. Paul says, that in this way it is not the Lord’s supper that is partaken of — not that a single abuse altogether set aside the sacred institution of Christ, and reduced it to nothing, but that they polluted the sacrament by observing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

Religious institutions: their abuse. "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not," etc. Three practical truths may be fairly deduced from this paragraph. I. THAT ATTENDANCE ON THE INSTITUTIONS OF RELIGION MAY PROVE PERNICIOUS RATHER TITAN BENEFICIAL . "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." The apostle in this verse censures the Corinthians that they came together to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

Some hindrances to the right observance of the Lord's Supper. Holy institutions may become unholy by perversion. That which is bestowed upon us as a peculiar blessing may prove a very real curse by misuse. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper is for our spiritual help and joy, but we may "come together not for the better, but for the worse." This was so with many of the Corinthians. They had conjoined to the Lord's Supper the love feast. To this feast each brought his provision, the rich... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Discreditable irregularities at the Eucharist and the agapae. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Special consideration of the Lord's Supper; uses of self judgment. And what is St. Paul's mood of mind now? "I declare unto you" (command you), and I praise you not, since I hear of "divisions" among you, and "I partly believe it." "Heresies [sects] must be among you," for in the present state of our nature there is no way to develop the good without the evil manifesting itself. The evil has its uses; the evil is not a cause but an occasion of good; the evil is overruled by the Holy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:20

Into one place. There were as yet no churches. The Lord's Supper was held in private houses. This is not; or perhaps, it is not possible. The Lord's Supper. The fact that there is no article in the Greek shows the early prevalence of this name for the Eucharist. read more

Group of Brands