Lord's Supper and 1 Cor 11:17-34

[Angainor]

What is the Catholic understanding of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34?

In this account, Paul is correcting the Corinthian Church for misusing the Lord’s Supper.

It sure sounds to me like Paul is addressing the whole church body, telling all the people how they should go about partaking in the Lord’s Supper. I have no indication that he is addressing the Corinthian priests or bishops.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 1 Corinthians 11:33

 

[TeriGator]

Frankly, I don’t see where it makes a difference. As a matter of fact, Paul is telling the entire congregation that they are not showing proper respect to the Lord’s Supper, and that they are behaving improperly during the celebration. He goes so far as to say that they risk damnation for improper reception:
27Therefore, 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. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
The fact that this is addressed to the recipients of the Eucharist does not indicate that there is no priest or bishop.

It rather sounds to me as though he is saying that, because they are treating this like just any other meal, coming and going at will and ignoring the proper form, they are not truly celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Rather Catholic, that. :clapping:

 

[Angainor]

TeriGator:

Frankly, I don’t see where it makes a difference. As a matter of fact, Paul is telling the entire congregation that they are not showing proper respect to the Lord’s Supper, and that they are behaving improperly during the celebration.

But does he have nothing to say to the “priests”? Like, hey, some of your communicants are starting before the others. Wait until all arrive before you begin the distribution.

TeriGator:
The fact that this is addressed to the recipients of the Eucharist does not indicate that there is no priest or bishop.I guess if wanted to belive there were bishops and priests in Corinth, I can make myself understand this passage to mean that a priest is administering the Sacrament. A plain reading of the passage, however, leaves me with the impression that the people are in charge of the Lord’s Supper, and Paul is instructing the people on how to celebrate it.