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1 Corinthians 11:20

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Corinthians 11:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord`s supper:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord`s supper:
1 Corinthians 11:20 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Corinthians 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
17But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.
18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.
19For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.
20When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord`s supper:
21for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not.
23For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
← 1 Corinthians 11:191 Corinthians 11:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“When ye come together therefore into one place, etc.] Though epi to auto does not signify so much the unity of the place, as of the persons meeting together, and their conjunction; so the phrase is used by the Septuagint, in (<052511>Deuteronomy 25:11 <061105>Joshua 11:5), yet it supposes a place where the church were wont to assemble for divine worship; this is not to eat the Lord’s supper: their view in coming together was not so much to celebrate the supper of the Lord, as to partake of their own supper, which was either the paschal supper, or something like it; which many of them “judaizing” observed before the Lord’s supper, in imitation of Christ, as they pretended, who first ate the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“When . . . therefore--Resuming the thread of discourse from Co1 11:18. this is not to--rather, "there is no such thing as eating the LORD'S Supper"; it is not possible where each is greedily intent only on devouring "HIS OWN supper," and some are excluded altogether, not having been waited for (Co1 11:33), where some are "drunken," while others are "hungry" (Co1 11:21). The love-feast usually preceded the Lord's Supper (as eating the Passover came before the Lord's Supper at the first institution of the latter). It was a club-feast, where each brought his portion, and the rich, extra portions for the poor; from it the bread and wine were taken for the Eucharist; and it was at it that the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“When ye come together therefore ... - When you are assembled as a church, compare Hebrews 10:25, and see the note on Acts 2:1. Christians were constantly in the habit of assembling for public worship. It is probable that at this early period all the Christians in Corinth were accustomed to meet in the same place. The apostle here particularly refers to their “assembling” to observe the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. At that early period it is probable that this was done on every Lord’s Day. This is not ... - Margin, “Ye cannot eat.” The meaning of this expression seems to be this. “Though you come together professedly to worship God, and to partake of the Lord’s Supper, yet this cannot be…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore - That is, in consequence of those schisms. It is not eating the Lord's supper - That solemn memorial of his death; but quite another thing. 1 Corinthians 11:21”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:20-22 Some people were more concerned about eating their own supper than with the Lord’s Supper.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“this is not to eat: or, ye cannot eat, Co1 11:20 1 Corinthians 11:21”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Corinthians 11 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification