Paul's teaching of the Lord's Supper : a socio-historical study of the Pauline account of the Last Supper and its Graeco-Roman background
The Lord's Supper was understood as a memorial of Christ's sacrificial death on the basis of a tradition handed down to the Corinthians by Paul, who reminded them of its real significance based on Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. Paul makes it clear that the Corinthians are not maintaining the Christian tradition associated with the Lord's Supper. The main focus in 1 Corinthians 11 is behaviour that calls for correction. The problem is that socio-cultural customs prevailed over Christian distinctives at the Meal. The Corinthians behaved in accordance with the social norms of the Graeco-Roman society. In I Corinthians 11: 17-26 Paul highlights and summarizes directives to regulate the church's practice. A careful exegesis of these verses provides a basis for the explanation of the whole of chapter 11. The examination of previous works in chapters 2 and 3 indicates that scholars disagree on the influence of mystery religious meals and social meals in the Graeco- Roman world on the Lord's Supper. However, the social customs in the church demonstrate that the Corinthian practice of the Lord's Supper was in tune with the common practice of the Graeco-Roman society. For instance, the eranos meal (a common
Coutsoumpos, Panayotis
Philosophy
Paul's teaching of the Lord's Supper : a socio-historical study of the Pauline account of the Last Supper and its Graeco-Roman background. The Lord's Supper was understood as a memorial of Christ's sacrificial death on the basis of a tradition handed down to the Corinthians by Paul, who reminded them of its real significance based on Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. Paul makes it clear that the Corinthians are not maintaining the Christian tradition associated with the Lord's Supper. The main focus in 1 Corinthians 11 is behaviour that calls for correction. The problem is that socio-cultural customs prevailed over Christian distinctives at the Meal. The Corinthians behaved in accordance with the social norms of the Graeco-Roman society. In I Corinthians 11: 17-26 Paul highlights and summarizes directives to regulate the church's practice. A careful exegesis of these verses provides a basis for the explanation of the whole of chapter 11. The examination of previous works in chapters 2 and 3 indicates that scholars disagree on the influence of mystery religious meals and social meals in the Graeco- Roman world on the Lord's Supper. However, the social customs in the church demonstrate that the Corinthian practice of the Lord's Supper was in tune with the common practice of the Graeco-Roman society. For instance, the eranos meal (a common
paul teaching lord socio_historical study pauline account last graeco_roman background lord understand memorial christ sacrificial death basis tradition hand corinthians paul remind real significance base jesus last disciple paul make_clear corinthians maintain christian_tradition associate lord main_focus corinthians behaviour call correction problem socio_cultural custom prevail christian meal corinthians behave accordance social_norm graeco_roman society corinthians paul highlight summarize directive regulate church practice careful exegesis verse provide_basis explanation whole examination previous_work indicate scholar disagree influence mystery religious meal social meal roman_world lord however social custom church corinthian practice lord tune common practice graeco_roman society instance meal common