1 Corinthians 11:21

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Corinthians 11:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1 Corinthians 11:21 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Corinthians 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
21for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For in eating, etc.] Not at the Lord’s table, but at tables spread for them in the place of divine worship, where everyone brought his own food, under a pretence that others, particularly the poor, should eat with him; but instead of that, he sat down and ate it himself, and would not stay till the rest came, to eat together: but everyone taketh before other his own supper; that is, without tarrying till all came together, in order to eat a friendly meal with each other, to encourage and increase brotherly love, one would sit down and fill himself before another came; so that some went without, whilst others had too much; and thus the designed end was not answered, and the whole was a piece…”
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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
“one taketh before other--the rich "before" the poor, who had no supper of their own. Instead of "tarrying for one another" (Co1 11:33); hence the precept (Co1 12:21, Co1 12:25). his own supper--"His own" belly is his God (Phi 3:19); "the Lord's Supper," the spiritual feast, never enters his thoughts. drunken--The one has more than is good for him, the other less [BENGEL].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For in eating - When you eat, having professedly come together to observe this ordinance. In order to understand this, it seems necessary to suppose that they had in some way made the Lord’s supper either connected with a common feast, or that they regarded it as a mere common festival to be observed in a way similar to the festivals among the Greeks. Many have supposed that this was done by making the observance of the supper follow a festival, or what were afterward called “love feasts” ἀγάπαι agapai - “Agapae”). Many have supposed that that custom was derived from the fact that the Saviour instituted the supper after a festival, a feast in which he had been engaged with his disciples,…”
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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
“For in eating what ye call the Lord's supper, instead of all partaking of one bread, each person brings his own supper, and eats it without staying for the rest. And hereby the poor, who cannot provide for themselves, have nothing; while the rich eat and drink to the full just as the heathens use to do at the feasts on their sacrifices. 1 Corinthians 11:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“in: Co1 11:23-25, Co1 10:16-18 and one: Pe2 2:13; Jde 1:12 1 Corinthians 11:22”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification