NOTES for Co1 11:17-34
Continuing his discussion of the Church, Paul never tires of reminding the Christians in Corinth of the true meaning of the breaking of bread. In the early Christian Church it continued into a fraternal meal, as was customary in the Jewish religious fellowships from which the Church borrowed its form. Apparently, for many who took part, the breaking of bread was merely an ordinary fraternal meal, a gathering of fellow believers who came together to spend time among “their own.” With such an attitude, it is not surprising that those assembled often saw no need to wait for people who were late for some reason, assuming that the latecomers could simply join the meal when they arrived. Of course, such latecomers missed the actual breaking and blessing of the bread, but this apparently caused little concern among those taking part in the meal: they probably regarded the traditional blessing of bread and wine as no more than a formality or a tribute to tradition, while considering the friendly meal itself to be the purpose of the gathering.
It is not surprising that some then allowed themselves more than they should, while others might receive nothing or very little (vv. 20–22). Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth that the breaking of bread is not merely a fraternal meal, or even merely a religious ritual. For Christians, the breaking of bread is a form of entirely real communion with the Risen One, who Himself blesses the bread and wine in the assembly of the faithful, as He did at the Last Supper (vv. 23–26). For the apostle, the breaking of bread is the center and meaning of the whole assembly; in it and through it the gathering becomes a community of the Kingdom headed by the Savior Himself, and those who do not understand this would do better not to take part in the breaking of bread (vv. 26–32). This is why the apostle requires those assembled not to hurry to begin, but to wait for latecomers: those who are absent from the blessing are in fact deprived of the communion with the Risen One for which the faithful gather. The point is not to make sure everyone has time to eat, since one can, after all, eat at home (vv. 33–34). For Christians, the breaking of bread is the form of communion with the Savior Himself that He commanded, and a way to participate in the life of the Kingdom; nothing should distract those assembled from this chief purpose.