Chapter
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Verse

1 Corinthians 11:34

ESV if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home — so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
NIV Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.
NASB If anyone is hungry, have him eat at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will give instructions when I come.
CSB If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you gather together you will not come under judgment. I will give instructions about the other matters whenever I come.
NLT If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.
KJV And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.
NKJV But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

What does 1 Corinthians 11:34 mean?

Paul wraps up this section about the Lord's Supper with practical direction on how to participate. This is meant to be a meal shared together as the body of Christ. He wrote in the previous verse that instead of everyone eating their food as they arrive, they should wait for everyone to be there and eat the meal together (1 Corinthians 11:33). This implies that food would be shared, meaning that the poor would be included and likely feel more welcomed. This would also correspond to the sacrament's sense of unity and equality among all believers.

Now Paul addresses the issue of overeating by encouraging the Corinthians not to come hungry to the Lord's Supper gathering. This observance of Christ's death for their sin was not meant to be like other meals. If their appetite is making it difficult to give proper respect to Christ's sacrifice and each other, they should eat at home before they come, Paul says.

If they do these things, they won't be coming together for the purpose of judgment. They will be coming together to honor the Lord and each other as the body of Christ.

The other issues Paul feels the need to address are probably also related to communion. Those, it seems, were not important enough to spend time on in the moment he was writing this letter. Instead, he will move on to other topics, starting in chapter 12.
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