Let a Man Examine Himself
By Carl O. Cooper
1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NKJV)
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner (Or unworthily as in the KJV) will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
What does this mean? What kind of examination? Let’s start with a definition of the Greek word translated as an adverb, unworthy or unworthily. In this modern age of computers anyone can look up the meaning of Greek words. Check it out in your own computer, it is relatively simple and you will find definitions and commentary to help you understand the meanings. I would like to copy and paste the Strong’s and Thayer’s and Vines pages for you to see but the format of this site does not allow them to be properly displayed.
So the Greek Definition of the word translated “Unworthily” found In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 is identified by the Greek Strong’s Number: 371. The Greek word used is ἀναξίως; Transliteration: anaxiōs and the phonetic pronunciation is an-ax-ee’-oce. According to Vines Words, it can be translated unworthily or unworthy and it is used as an adverb in 1 Cor. 11:27, and 1 Cor 11:29.
According to Strong’s and Thayer’s; anaxiōs carries the meaning of irreverently or unworthily. Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary word #371: ἀναξίως – Root: from <G370>
- Only the KJV uses “unworthily”
- All other translations use “in an unworthy manner”.
- Both Strong’s and Thayer’s translate the word “anaxiōs” as … Unworthily, or Unworthy
- They mean “irreverently” according to Strong’s or “in an unworthy manner”
- The English definition of “unworthily” is “see unworthy”
- Unworthy, undeserving, beneath somebody, without value, vile, unworthily, unworthiness
The fact that the word is used as unworthily and the part of speech is an adverb is insignificant in what the context of the text means. It means that the Lord’s Supper was taken irreverently and the Holy Communion was profaned and taken in a way that was irreverent and vain. How many ways can communion be taken in an irreverent manor?
There is no doubt that anyone who would turn the Lord’s Supper into a common meal or neglect to have proper reverence for the observance of communion would absolutely profane the Holy Worship of Communion and would be taking it in an unworthy manner. And part of this self examination would be to make sure the Lord’s Supper is not dishonored by taking it this way. We know the people of Corinth were doing this in 1 Cor. 11:27.
But is this all we are looking for as we examine ourselves before we partake?
A. How about someone who does not believe Jesus was really our Savior?
B. How about someone who has anger towards God?
C. How about an atheist who has no faith in religion and thinks God is a myth?
D. How about hatred in our heart for our brother?
E. How about a Muslim who hates Jesus and Christians?
Do you think these people can “hold Jesus in reverence” and partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner? Without faith in Jesus how can you partake of Communion and not profane the Holy Worship?
The fact is this, people who have no faith in Christ and who are caught up in a sinful lifestyle and who refuse to submit to God and repent, are not worthy to worship God. For them to go through the motions of worship becomes an abomination and it is without value and unworthy. Many places in the Bible describe this type of worship.
Christians are worthy to worship God because we have been Cleaned, Sanctified, and Saved by the Blood of Christ. We are Holy. But even Christians can profane the worship God if it is not done correctly.
I think it is pretty obvious that a person who does not even believe that Jesus exists would not be able to take communion in a proper frame of mind. Communion is way too Holy to be profaned like this and yet still think this would somehow be proper or acceptable to God. In fact, the Bible is very clear about this being an abomination to God. 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
There is no way that this person can take communion in a “Worthy Manner”. Why would that be so? It is so because the persons themselves are not worthy.
Now I know that people of today tremble when they hear me say someone is not worthy. And that is partly because of a world view that sees God as the “Old Grandfather in The Sky” who excuses everything the people on earth can do. But these people are not washed, they are not cleansed, they are not sanctified, and they are not Holy. These people are in no way ready to partake of Holy Communion in a worthy manner.
We must not forget the lessons we learned from the Old Testament about how to present ourselves to God. There were ways that people cleansed themselves before they were allowed to enter into the worship of God, and that included the Passover.
Christians are already cleansed. We are cleansed by the Blood of Christ and we are Sanctified, and we are Holy. We are worthy to take Communion in a worthy manner.
That cannot be said about a blatant sinner who refuses to repent or a person caught up in hatred for his fellow Christian Brother (which is blatant sin), an atheist, and many more people we could name. Sin is just as valid a reason why a person cannot take communion in a worthy manner as profaning the Holiness of Communion by taking it at weddings or on Saturday.
There is, however, another category to consider.
What about the non-Christian who visits our services and doesn’t even know he is not saved? Perhaps from a denominational church or who is so religiously ignorant they do not understand? I think anyone can see that there is some difference here. Not that they have the same rights that a Christian does to worship God, and not that there is “a pass” for sinners who have not obeyed the Gospel, but it seems like there needs to be a gentler approach to the teaching process that leads them to the truth. (This lack of teaching can also be overdone to the point that we are teaching that we should wink at sin as though it was not significant.)
Frankly, as I have said in many other places, we are not the “Communion Police”. However, the seriousness of God’s caution, “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep” is so serious that we would be subjecting people to serious consequences if we refused to teach on this subject in a proper way. And by proper way I include all of the above categories of “unworthy manner” that I have described.
But once again, a word of caution here. The communion table would not be the place for a detailed teaching explanation. And every man is just not qualified to handle this assignment. How do we handle this on Sunday morning as we take Communion with people who visit?
Answer – We don’t.
This would be the wrong place to try to teach this lesson. There may be family members there, perhaps for the first time in their lives.
People should be taught that worship can be vain and improper, but in a subtle and gentle way. Not everyone has the personality to teach this with the proper tone. A person should not be picked to teach this just because they are willing to do so. This would be no place for the man who is aggressive and forceful in his approach to life.
Carl O. Cooper
issues and opinions 