Revisiting 1 Corinthians 11.27-34: Paul's Discussion of the Lord's Supper and African Meals

Abstract

Most discussions on the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians have focused on individual behaviour rather than on the worshipping community as a whole. The result has been an emphasis on qualifications for participation and the need for self-examination by individual participants. But as this article tries to demonstrate, the main problem that Paul addresses in the passage is that of individualistic tendencies which have been manifested in various ways among the Corinthian community. As such, this article seeks to proffer an interpretation that seeks to recast the passage in its broader, corporate context by drawing on insights from particular aspects of African culture.