What does "examine himself" mean in 1 Corinthians 11:28? Canonical Text “For everyone who eats and drinks without first examining himself eats and drinks judgment on himself.” Immediate Context Paul addresses a Corinthian assembly fractured by factions, selfishness, and disregard for the poor (11:17-22). Their careless participation in the Lord’s Supper trivializes Christ’s sacrifice and invites divine discipline (11:29-32). “Examine himself” is Paul’s corrective command, placed between the institution narrative (11:23-26) and the warning of judgment (11:29-32), linking remembrance of the cross with personal accountability. Old Testament Precedent 1. Passover preparation (Exodus 12:15,19) demanded purging leaven before eating the lamb, foreshadowing self-scrutiny before the Supper of the Lamb. 2. Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart….” 3. Lamentations 3:40: “Let us examine and test our ways.” The motif of self-examination precedes covenant meals and worship encounters with Yahweh. Purpose of the Examination 1. Discern the Body (v. 29) To recognize the bread and cup as memorials of the crucified, risen Christ and the unity of His body, the Church. 2. Repent of Known Sin Confession (1 John 1:9) restores fellowship, averting disciplinary sickness or death (11:30). 3. Affirm Genuine Faith Parallel: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). The table is for redeemed sinners resting solely in Christ. What Examination Is Not • Not a demand for sinless perfection; the Supper is for penitent believers, not the self-righteous. • Not perpetual morbid introspection; joy and gratitude follow honest confession (Psalm 32:1-5). • Not a magical ritual that earns grace; salvation remains by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). Historical Practice • Didache 9-10 (1st cent.): Only the baptized, reconciled believers partake. • Justin Martyr, Apology I 66: Communion reserved for those “who have believed…and have been washed.” • Reformers reinstated fencing the table—public self-examination and church discipline (1 Corinthians 5). Manuscript tradition (𝔓46, ℵ, A, B, D) universally preserves dokimazetō, underscoring the command’s antiquity. Practical Steps for Today 1. Prayerfully invite the Spirit’s illumination (John 16:8-13). 2. Measure attitudes against the gospel pattern of sacrificial love (Philippians 2:5-8). 3. Restore fractured relationships (Matthew 5:23-24). 4. Reaffirm reliance on Christ’s finished work; partake in faith and gratitude (Hebrews 10:19-22). 5. Express corporate unity—wait for and serve one another (1 Corinthians 11:33-34). Consequences of Neglect Persistent, unrepentant participation can provoke corrective discipline (11:30-32). Temporal judgment aims at ultimate salvation: “that we may not be condemned with the world” (v. 32). Assurance in Christ Self-examination culminates not in despair but in gospel rest: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The table thus becomes a rhythm of conviction, confession, cleansing, and celebration—proclaiming the Lord’s death “until He comes” (11:26). |
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