1 Corinthians 11:34

KJV

And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} if any man {G1536} hunger {G3983}, let him eat {G2068} at {G1722} home {G3624}; that {G3363} ye come {G4905} not {G3363} together {G4905} unto {G1519} condemnation {G2917}. And {G1161} the rest {G3062} will I set in order {G1299} when {G5613}{G302} I come {G2064}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If someone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it will not result in judgment.

As for the other matters, I will instruct you about them when I come.

Berean Standard Bible

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.

American Standard Version

If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Corinthians 11:34 concludes Paul's urgent directives regarding the Corinthian church's misuse of the Lord's Supper and associated communal meals, specifically addressing the issue of hunger and disorderly conduct. Paul instructs those who are genuinely hungry to eat at home, thereby separating physical sustenance from the sacred observance and preventing the assembly from becoming a source of divine judgment. He then asserts his apostolic authority, promising to establish further order and regulations upon his personal visit, underscoring his commitment to the church's spiritual health and proper functioning.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the concluding exhortation to Paul's extensive teaching on the proper observance of the Lord's Supper, which begins in [1 Corinthians 11:17](/1_corinthians/11-17 "1 Corinthians 11:17 - Abuses at the Lord's Supper"). Paul has meticulously detailed the historical institution of the Supper by Christ ([1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")), the solemnity of its purpose, and the severe consequences of partaking unworthily ([1 Corinthians 11:27-32](/1_corinthians/11-27-32 "1 Corinthians 11:27-32 - Warning Against Unworthy Participation")). The immediate preceding verses ([1 Corinthians 11:33](/1_corinthians/11-33 "1 Corinthians 11:33 - Wait for One Another")) emphasize the need for mutual waiting and consideration, directly addressing the selfish behavior where some ate abundantly while others went hungry. Verse 34 provides a practical, immediate solution to the physical problem of hunger that was contributing to the disorder, while also signaling Paul's ongoing pastoral oversight.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early Christian church often combined the celebration of the Lord's Supper with a communal meal, known as the "love feast" or *agape* feast. This practice was rooted in Jewish communal meals and the early church's emphasis on fellowship and sharing. However, in Corinth, a wealthy port city known for its diverse population and social stratification, this practice had devolved into chaos. Wealthier members, arriving early, would consume their own provisions, often excessively, while poorer members, delayed by work, would arrive to find little or nothing left. This created a stark class division within the church, shaming the poor and dishonoring the very unity symbolized by the body of Christ and the Lord's Supper. Paul's instruction to "eat at home" directly addresses this social inequity and the resulting spiritual harm, seeking to restore the dignity and sacredness of the communal gathering.

* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme in [1 Corinthians 11](/1_corinthians/11 "1 Corinthians 11 - Head Coverings and the Lord's Supper") is **order and decorum in worship**. Paul consistently emphasizes that Christian gatherings should reflect God's character, which is one of peace and order, not confusion ([1 Corinthians 14:33](/1_corinthians/14-33 "1 Corinthians 14:33 - God of Order")). This verse specifically contributes to the theme of **preventing condemnation** by ensuring worthy participation in the Lord's Supper, as highlighted in [1 Corinthians 11:29](/1_corinthians/11-29 "1 Corinthians 11:29 - Eating and Drinking Judgment"). Furthermore, Paul's concluding statement, "And the rest will I set in order when I come," underscores the theme of **apostolic authority and church governance**. It demonstrates his ongoing pastoral responsibility and commitment to establishing sound practices that foster unity and spiritual health within the nascent Christian communities he founded.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **condemnation (Greek, _kríma'_):** From G2917, this word signifies a decision, judgment, or verdict. In this context, it refers to divine judgment or discipline, which could manifest as sickness or even death, as Paul explains in [1 Corinthians 11:30](/1_corinthians/11-30 "1 Corinthians 11:30 - Consequences of Unworthy Participation"). It is not necessarily eternal damnation but a temporal consequence for irreverent behavior during a sacred act.
* **set in order (Greek, _diatássō'_):** From G1299, this verb means to arrange thoroughly, institute, or prescribe. Paul's use of this word indicates his intention to establish clear, authoritative regulations and practices for the church, ensuring proper conduct and spiritual discipline that aligns with God's will and the church's mission.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And if any man hunger, let him eat at home;":** This clause provides a direct, practical solution to the problem of hunger and gluttony that plagued the Corinthian fellowship meals. Paul separates the physical need for food from the spiritual observance of the Lord's Supper. By instructing hungry individuals to eat before coming to the assembly, he aims to remove the primary source of the disorder, ensuring that the communal gathering remains focused on its sacred purpose rather than personal sustenance. The phrase "at home" (Greek, _oîkos'_) emphasizes the private sphere, distinct from the corporate worship setting.
* **"that ye come not together unto condemnation.":** This is a crucial purpose clause, explaining the *why* behind the instruction. The disorderly and selfish conduct during the communal meals, particularly the Lord's Supper, was provoking divine judgment (Greek, _kríma'_). Paul warns that continuing such behavior would lead the entire assembly into a state of incurring God's displeasure, which could manifest in various forms of discipline, as previously mentioned in the chapter. The goal is to prevent the church from bringing judgment upon itself through irreverence and disunity.
* **"And the rest will I set in order when I come.":** This concluding statement asserts Paul's apostolic authority and ongoing pastoral care. "The rest" (Greek, _loipoí'_) refers to any remaining issues or further regulations needed to bring complete order and proper practice to the Corinthian church. Paul indicates that while he has addressed the most pressing concerns in this letter, a personal visit will allow him to implement more detailed instructions and administrative structures, ensuring the long-term spiritual health and orderly functioning of the community.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs **Imperative Mood** in "let him eat at home," conveying a direct command and emphasizing the urgency and necessity of the instruction. The phrase "that ye come not together unto condemnation" functions as a **Purpose Clause**, clearly articulating the severe spiritual consequence that the command is designed to avert. This highlights Paul's pastoral concern for the Corinthians' well-being and their relationship with God. Additionally, Paul's concluding remark, "And the rest will I set in order when I come," serves as a form of **Apostolic Assertion** or **Promise**, reinforcing his authority and commitment to the church's spiritual order. It also functions as a **Proleptic Statement**, anticipating future actions and further guidance, thereby leaving the Corinthians with a sense of ongoing accountability and expectation for his return.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse underscores the profound sacredness of corporate worship, particularly the Lord's Supper, and the serious implications of treating it as common. Paul's directive highlights that the assembly of believers is not merely a social gathering but a holy convocation where God's presence is invoked and His holiness must be honored. The warning against "condemnation" reveals God's active involvement in the life of His church, holding believers accountable for their conduct and attitudes, especially when they gather in His name. It teaches that true spiritual fellowship requires self-control, consideration for others, and a deep reverence for the divine ordinances established by Christ.

* [Romans 14:19](/romans/14-19 "Romans 14:19 - Pursue Peace and Edification")
* [Hebrews 12:28-29](/hebrews/12-28-29 "Hebrews 12:28-29 - Worship God Acceptably")
* [1 Peter 4:17](/1_peter/4-17 "1 Peter 4:17 - Judgment Begins at the House of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
First Corinthians 11:34 offers enduring wisdom for contemporary believers and churches. It challenges us to examine our attitudes and practices during corporate worship, especially when partaking in the Lord's Supper. The core principle remains: our gatherings should be marked by reverence, order, and genuine unity, not by self-indulgence or behaviors that cause division or shame. We are called to prioritize the spiritual significance of the assembly over personal convenience or physical desires, ensuring that our focus remains on Christ and our fellowship with one another in Him. This requires personal discipline and a selfless consideration for the needs and dignity of every member of the body, preventing any action that might bring dishonor to God or His church.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my personal preparation for corporate worship, particularly the Lord's Supper, reflect a reverence for its sacredness?**
* **In what ways might I be unintentionally contributing to disorder or division in my church's gatherings, and how can I rectify this?**
* **What practical steps can I take to ensure that my participation in communal meals or church events fosters unity and honors all members, regardless of their social standing?**
* **How does the concept of "condemnation" in this context inform my understanding of God's discipline and His desire for holiness within His church?**

### FAQ

**What does Paul mean by "condemnation" in this context?**

Answer: In [1 Corinthians 11:34](/1_corinthians/11-34 "1 Corinthians 11:34 - Eat at Home to Avoid Condemnation"), "condemnation" (Greek: _kríma_) refers to divine judgment or discipline, not necessarily eternal damnation. Paul elaborates on this in [1 Corinthians 11:30](/1_corinthians/11-30 "1 Corinthians 11:30 - Consequences of Unworthy Participation"), where he states that some Corinthians were sick and even dying because of their unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper. This judgment was a temporal consequence, a form of corrective discipline from God, aimed at bringing them to repentance and preventing eternal condemnation ([1 Corinthians 11:32](/1_corinthians/11-32 "1 Corinthians 11:32 - Disciplined by the Lord")). It underscores the seriousness with which God views the sacredness of His ordinances and the unity of His body.

**Why does Paul tell them to "eat at home" if they are hungry?**

Answer: Paul's instruction to "eat at home" addresses a specific problem in the Corinthian church where the communal "love feast" preceding or accompanying the Lord's Supper had become a source of division and gluttony. Wealthier members were eating their fill, sometimes excessively, while poorer members, who might arrive later, went hungry. This behavior dishonored the poor, violated the spirit of Christian fellowship, and desecrated the solemnity of the Lord's Supper. By telling the hungry to eat at home, Paul sought to separate the satisfaction of physical hunger from the sacred act of remembering Christ's sacrifice, thereby restoring order, dignity, and unity to the church's gathering and ensuring that the focus remained on the spiritual purpose of the meal, not on personal feasting.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Corinthians 11:34 provides practical instructions for church order, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment lies in how it points to the Lord Jesus as the ultimate source of true spiritual nourishment and unity. The disorder at Corinth stemmed from a failure to properly discern the "body of the Lord" ([1 Corinthians 11:29](/1_corinthians/11-29 "1 Corinthians 11:29 - Discerning the Body")), a failure to recognize Christ's presence in the Supper and in His unified body, the Church. Christ Himself is the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus the Bread of Life")), who satisfies our deepest spiritual hunger, making physical hunger secondary in the context of worship. His sacrifice on the cross, commemorated in the Supper, is the very foundation of the new covenant, establishing a community where social distinctions are abolished and all are one in Him ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile in Christ")). Paul's desire to "set in order" the Corinthian church reflects Christ's own desire for His Church to be holy, without spot or wrinkle ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Love for the Church")), a unified body that faithfully proclaims His death until He comes ([1 Corinthians 11:26](/1_corinthians/11-26 "1 Corinthians 11:26 - Proclaiming the Lord's Death")). Thus, the call for order and reverence in this verse ultimately serves to magnify Christ, the Head of the Church, and ensure that His people gather in a manner worthy of His name and His redemptive work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 11:21

For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

1 Corinthians 11:22

What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not.

1 Corinthians 4:19

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

1 Corinthians 7:17

¶ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Titus 1:5

¶ For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

1 Corinthians 16:5

¶ Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.