Lexical Summary anaxiós: Unworthy, not deserving Original Word: ἀνάξιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unworthily. Adverb from anaxios; irreverently -- unworthily. see GREEK anaxios HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 371 anaksíōs – unworthily. See 370 (anaksios). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from anaxios Definition in an unworthy manner NASB Translation unworthy manner (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 371: ἀναξίωςἀναξίως, adverb (from Sophicles down), in an unworthy manner: 1 Corinthians 11:27, and 1 Corinthians 11:29 Rec. (Cf. Winer's Grammar, 463 (431).) Topical Lexicon Concept Overviewἀναξίως describes an approach to sacred things that fails to meet the moral and spiritual fitness God requires. It is not a statement about personal merit before salvation but about the manner in which a believer handles holy ordinances after having been reconciled to God through Christ. Canonical Setting The single New Testament occurrence is in 1 Corinthians 11:27, where Paul confronts Corinthian abuses of the Lord’s Supper. Some arrived early, ate greedily, left others hungry, and even became drunk (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). Into that context Paul warns, “Whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27). The Lord’s Supper and Covenant Fidelity 1. Participation in the Supper visibly identifies the believer with the atoning death of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:26). Ethical and Spiritual Implications • Reverence: The ordinance is no ordinary meal but a proclamation of the crucified Lord. Historical Reception Early Church: The Didache urged confession before communion, echoing Paul’s demand for worthy participation. Patristic Era: Augustine equated unworthy reception with the sin of Judas at the Last Supper. Middle Ages: Liturgical confession, fasting, and post-millennial frequency highlighted reverence. Reformation: Luther stressed faith in the words “given and shed,” while Calvin emphasized self-examination and spiritual feeding on Christ by faith. Both retained Paul’s warning as binding. Modern Evangelical Practice: Many traditions incorporate preparatory exhortations, corporate confession, and, in some cases, church discipline to honor the text. Pastoral and Liturgical Applications • Teach frequent, gospel-centered self-examination that looks to Christ’s sufficiency rather than mere introspection. Related Biblical Themes • Worthy walk (Ephesians 4:1; Philippians 1:27). Practical Counseling Considerations When counseling believers hesitant to partake: 1. Clarify that the table is for sinners saved by grace; the issue is unrepentant sin, not flawless performance. Summary ἀναξίως calls the church to approach the Lord’s Supper with repentant faith, love for the body of Christ, and reverence for the crucified Lord. The term’s solitary yet weighty appearance anchors a perennial summons to holy participation in the New Covenant meal until Christ returns. Forms and Transliterations αναξιως αναξίως ἀναξίως ανάπαυμα anaxios anaxiōs anaxíos anaxíōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |