1 Corinthians 11:29

29. [ἀναξίως] rec. with DEFG Vetus Lat. Vulg. Peshito. Text אABC. The authority of the ancient versions is strong. But on the whole it appears more probable that the word was introduced from 1 Corinthians 11:27. Origen has the word, but his citation is loose. See note on 1 Corinthians 11:29 below.

[τοῦ κυρίου] at end of verse, rec. with DEFG Vulg. Peshito. Text אABC and some copies of Vulg.

29. κρίμα. Judgment, as in A.V., margin. Wiclif, dome (as in ch. 1 Corinthians 6:4). Luther, gericht. Vulgate, judicium. ‘The mistranslation in our version has,’ says Dean Alford, ‘done infinite mischief.’ Olshausen reminds us how in Germany a translation (see above) less strong than this, yet interpreted to. mean the same thing, drove Goethe from ‘Church and altar.’ Of what kind the judgment is the next verse explains. That it is not final condemnation that is threatened, 1 Corinthians 11:32 clearly shews (Alford, De Wette). But the word has an unfavourable sense everywhere in N. T. except perhaps Revelation 20:4. It is therefore equivalent to our word ‘condemnation.’ Some MSS. and editors omit ‘unworthily’ here. See Critical Note. It may have been introduced from 1 Corinthians 11:27. If it be omitted, the sense is that he who eats and drinks without discerning (see next note) the Body of Christ, invites an unfavourable judgment on himself. If it be retained, we are to understand that he who partakes unworthily, invites God’s judgment on him because he does not discern the Lord’s Body.

μὴ διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα. Because (or rather almost when) he does not discern the body. μὴ ἐξετάζων, μὴ ἐννοῶν, ὡς χρή, τὸ μέγεθος τῶν προκειμένων, μὴ λογιζόμενος τὸν ὄγκον τῆς δωρεᾶς. Chrysostom. μή denotes the condition which produces the κρίμα. The meaning of διακρίνω here, as in 1 Corinthians 6:5, is to come to a correct decision after examination. The believer has discerned the fact that it is no ordinary meal in which he is invited to participate, but that in the rite there is a feeding on the Body of Christ. Some interpret ‘not discriminating between the Body of the Lord and other kinds of food.’ But the interpretation above is confirmed by 1 Corinthians 11:31, where διεκρίνομεν cannot mean ‘distinguish between ourselves and others,’ but must mean ‘come to a right conclusion about ourselves.’ See note on 1 Corinthians 4:7 and cf. Matthew 16:3.