1 Corinthians 11:27-32

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:32

Verse 32 32.But when we are judged Here we have a consolation that is exceedingly necessary; for if any one in affliction thinks that God is angry with him, he will rather be discouraged than excited to repentance. Paul, accordingly, says, that God is angry with believers in such a way as not in the meantime to be forgetful of his mercy: nay more, that it is on this account particularly that he punishes them — that he may consult their welfare. It is an inestimable consolation (720) — that the... 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 11:23-34

The Lord's Supper. "For I have received," etc. These verses give an account of what is called the Lord's Supper. This supper was instituted by Christ himself the night in which he was betrayed, while he was observing the Passover with his disciples. On that night he virtually directed the minds of men from all Jewish ritualism and centred them on himself. "Do this in remembrance of me." True religion now has to do with a Person, and that Person is Christ. In reading the words of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:27

And drink this cup. This ought to be rendered, or drink this cup. It seems to be one of the extremely few instances in which the translators of our Authorized Version were led by bias into unfaithful rendering. They may have persuaded themselves that the apostle must have meant "and;" but their duty as translators was to translate what he said, not what they supposed him to have meant. What he meant was that it was possible to partake in a wrong spirit either of the bread or the cup.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:27

Sacramental unworthiness. The special thought here is the evil of looking at the Lord's Supper as if it were a mere eating and drinking time. It is a symbolic time; it is a spiritually feasting time. It is a time when the wants and demands of the body are to be put wholly aside. It is a. soul time. He eats unworthily who stays with any bodily partaking of mere emblems, and fails to fill his soul with living bread—with him who is the "Bread of life." The following points are so simple and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Perils at the Lord's table. A frequent question, "Who should come to the Lord's table?" Many have come who ought not to have come as they were; not a few have been deterred from coming who were quite suitable. Many have not pondered sufficiently the duty of observing the Lord's Supper; many have been alarmed by certain expressions contained in this passage. I. GLANCE AT THE SCENE . It lies in gay, voluptuous, immoral Corinth. A city magnificent externally; abased and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:28

Let a man examine himself. The verb means "let him test his own feelings;" put them to the proof, to see whether they be sincere or not. He must "wash his hands in innocency," and so come to God's altar (see Matthew 5:22 , Matthew 5:23 ; 2 Corinthians 13:5 ). And so. Soberly, that is; seriously, humbly, and with due reverence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:28

Moral fitness for communion. Explain the Scottish custom of "fencing the tables" at sacramental seasons, that is, of guarding the tables from the approach of unworthy persons. There has grown up round the expression, "Let a man examine himself," a kind of self searching, as a Christian duty, which could hardly have been in the thought of the apostle. It has come to be considered the right thing that, at stated seasons, the Christian should subject his whole inner life, his thoughts, his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:29

Unworthily. The word is not genuine here, being repeated from 1 Corinthians 11:27 ; it is omitted by א , A , B, C. Eateth and drinketh damnation to himself; rather, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself There is reason to believe that the word "damnation" once had a much milder meaning in English than that which it now popularly bears. In King James's time it probably did not of necessity mean more than "an unfavourable verdict." Otherwise this would be the most unfortunate... read more

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