1 Corinthians 11:28
What does 1 Corinthians 11:28 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 11:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 11:28 means
Paul calls each person to examine himself, and so eat and drink. The goal is not to keep people away, but to ensure they come rightly. Self-examination means testing one’s attitude toward Christ and His church: Are we trusting His sacrifice? Harboring unrepentant sin? Despising fellow believers? The remedy for unworthy participation is repentance and faith expressed in love. After honest self-judgment, believers should partake. The Supper is grace for the needy, not a prize for the perfect, but it must be received with reverence and discernment that accords with its holy meaning.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But let no man take of the bread and the cup without testing himself.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and let a man be proving himself, and so of the bread let him eat, and of the cup let him drink;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the chalice.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But let a man prove himself, and thus eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.
Context
This instruction functions as the practical counterpart to the warning in verse 27. Paul does not cancel the Supper but teaches how to approach it. Verse 29 will explain why this matters by tying unworthy eating to judgment for failing to discern the body. Then verse 30 will point to real consequences already present in Corinth, leading to an appeal to judge ourselves (verse 31) and to understand the Lord’s chastening purpose (verse 32).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.
- Galatians 6:4
But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.
- Psalms 26:2
Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind.
- Numbers 9:10
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be on a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto Jehovah.
- 1 Corinthians 11:31
But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
- Haggai 1:7
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.
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