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1 Corinthians 11:20-22 – Three Ways to Organize Thoughts
Learning how to study is enhanced by seeing structures within written material. This helps me better understand the text. It is a myopic view to suggest there can only be one way to organize a text.
For example, “there they crucified him” (Luke 23:33; John 19:18) can have different emphases based upon which word is stressed:
*THERE – WHERE – Golgotha
*THEY – WHO – Romans
*CRUCIFIED – WHAT & HOW – Method of Capital Punishment
*HIM – WHO – Jesus
Repeat “there they crucified him” four times stressing a different word. When doing this the points become more pointed.
The same can be done for larger segments. Here’s an example of three different results from my trying to understand the text, all which teach through their different emphases:
STRUCTURE #1 ‐ Emphasis on Questions
A – CORINTHIANS’ NOT: When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
QUESTION #1: What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?
QUESTION #2: Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?
QUESTION #3: What shall I say to you?
QUESTION #4: Shall I commend you in this?
A’ – PAUL’S NOT: No, I will not.” (ESV 1 Corinthians 11:20-22)
What we learn from example #1 is a great way to teach is by asking questions. This is especially true when trying to get people to incriminate themselves by their answering.
STRUCTURE #2 ‐ Chiasm with Emphasis on Sarcastic Solution
A – CONDEMNATION: When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
B – SEPARATION IN ASSEMBLY: For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
C – SARCASTIC SOLUTION – MORE SEPARATION OUT OF ASSEMBLY: What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?
B’ – SEPARATION IN ASSEMBLY: Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?
A’ – CONDEMNATION: What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.” (ESV 1 Corinthians 11:20-22)
What we learn from example #2 is Paul’s false solution. Eating at home might fill their bellies, but it still would not provide the bread and drink for the needy among them to partake in the Lord’s supper. If they were shaming their brothers and sisters, keep that shameful behavior at home.
STRUCTURE #3 ‐ Connecting Thoughts in Step Parallelism
A – ISSUE: When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat.
B1 – OWN MEAL: For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal.
B2 – INEQUALITY: One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
B1′ – OWN HOUSE: What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?
B2′ – INEQUALITY: Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?
A’ – CONCLUSION: What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.” (ESV 1 Corinthians 11:20-22)
What we learn from example #3 is how Paul goes from selfishness to inequality twice in step progression.
I hope this example of an exercise I use to better understand a text is useful to you. It can be tedious, but in the end I find it helpful.
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