What problem did the Corinthian church have with the Lord's Table?
The Corinthian church had turned the Lord's Table, or communion service, into a source of problems. Disorderly practices and improper conduct were occurring in the church that should never have taken place, so Paul had to address the matter directly in his instruction concerning the cup and bread.
Les explains that even the Corinthians' practicing of what is called the Lord's Table, or the communion service, had become a problem. They were having all kinds of things going on that should never have taken place in the church, and Paul had to address it. This fits the broader pattern in 1 Corinthians, where Paul deals with problems besetting the Corinthian church, such as eating meats offered to idols and believers going to law in pagan courts. Then in verse 16 Paul speaks of the cup of blessing and the bread as the communion or fellowship of the blood and body of Christ.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
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