1 Corinthians 11:23
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 11:23
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 11 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of redemption, wisdom, sacrifice. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-34: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it addresses timeless questions about faith, suffering, and divine purpose. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 11:23
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Analysis
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread—Paul pivots from rebuke to institution narrative. Παρέλαβον ἀπὸ τοῦ κυρίου (I received from the Lord)—technical language of apostolic tradition (cf. 15:3). Did Paul receive this directly via revelation or through apostolic testimony? Both: the tradition came through the apostles, but Paul's authority to transmit it came from Christ Himself.
The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed (ὁ κύριος Ἰησοῦς ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ᾗ παρεδίδετο)—paredideto (was betrayed/handed over) is imperfect tense: the action of betrayal was in process. This solemnizes the meal—instituted at Jesus's darkest hour, surrounded by treachery, abandonment, and impending crucifixion. Yet Jesus didn't cancel the meal or despair; He instituted a sacred ordinance pointing to His death as substitutionary atonement. The Corinthians' abuse of this meal, instituted in such gravity, is especially heinous.
Historical Context
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper during Passover (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-23). The Passover context is critical: lamb's blood saved Israel from judgment (Exodus 12). Jesus reinterprets Passover christologically—His body and blood are the true sacrifice that delivers from sin's judgment. Paul's account, written circa AD 55 (about 25 years after Jesus's death), is the earliest written testimony to the Last Supper, predating the Synoptic Gospels. This shows how central the Eucharist was to early Christian worship.
Reflection
- How does the betrayal context of the Last Supper deepen its meaning—Christ instituted covenant even as He was being betrayed?
- What does it mean that Paul 'received from the Lord' this tradition—how do apostolic authority and direct revelation interact?
- How should remembering the solemnity of the Last Supper's institution affect how we approach the Table today?
Word Studies
- Lord: Κύριος (Kurios) G2962 - Lord, Master
Cross-References
- References Jesus: Matthew 26:17, 26:34, Galatians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2
- References Lord: Deuteronomy 4:5
- Parallel theme: 1 Corinthians 15:3, Matthew 26:2, 28:20, Acts 20:7