I was reading my NIV Study Bible last night, and looking at the Scriptural evidence for the Eucharist. Was looking to see what the Protestant editors had to say about the text. I must admit they raised an interesting point. 1 Cor. 11:29 says that “anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
The NIV editors said that the larger passage concerning the Lord’s Supper could be referring to Christ’s actual body and blood per the Catholic teaching. But, they asked, if so, where is the Blood? That is, the verse begins by noting that a person eats and drinks, but then it says that they incur judgment if they fail to recognize the Body, but on the face of the text, nothing explicit happens to anyone for failing to recognize the Blood of the Lord.
I expect that there is a valid reason for this apparent omission, but some thoughts would be welcomed. Thanks
Montgomery:
As you will see by reading the other brothers and sisters here, the commentators are probably guilty of taking that one verse out of context.
When St Paul sent these letters, they were read section by section, not verse by verse, so the worshippers the letters were intended for would have heard the whole thing.
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 NIV
*For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Therefore, 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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.*
1 Corinthians 11:23-32 The Message
*Let me go over with you again exactly what goes on in the Lord’s Supper and why it is so centrally important. I received my instructions from the Master himself and passed them on to you. The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, *
This is my body, broken for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:
This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.
Each time you drink this cup, remember me.
What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.
Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of “remembrance” you want to be part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe.
If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.
I hope that this, along with the rest that has been written by the other brothers and sisters.
Your Brother in Christ, Michael
