Holiness and Justice: Exegetical Comments on 1 Corinthians 11.17-34

Abstract

The Pauline tradition of the Last Supper is understood here as the handing on of affirmations of hope and remembrance related to Christ, which are inserted into the ritual of Jewish meals. The early Christian celebration of the Lord's Supper is a full community meal which follows the Jewish rite. The conflict in Corinth was generated by the attempt of well-off members of the community to consume their own food and drink during the community meal, separated from the poorer majority of the community. In the view of Paul and other members of the community, this action involves a social injustice which wounds the holiness of the body of Christ. Just as eating and sacrament are linked in the early Christian Lord's Supper, so too are holiness and justice linked.

Tension at the table: 1 Corinthians 11:23–32

“…In this myth of hope, ideas of a renewed creation coalesce with ideas of an end to the political violence which some inflict on others. 2 The tension is tangible, both theologically and emotionally: around the table, Christians both enter into the injustice and violence of the Passion story while also claiming God's reign of peace and justice. This tension is inherent in the communion meal and highlighted by Paul's particular framing of Jesus' words of institution.…”