1 Corinthians 11:23 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 11:23 mean?

1 Corinthians 11:23 means that Paul is reminding the Corinthian Christians that the instructions he gave them about the Lord’s Supper did not come from his own ideas, but were passed on directly from Jesus himself. Paul says that on the very night Jesus was betrayed, Jesus took bread and began what Christians now call Communion.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing confusion and problems about how they were celebrating the Lord’s Supper. By saying he “received of the Lord,” Paul emphasizes that this teaching has the highest authority. The mention of “the same night in which he was betrayed” highlights the seriousness and timing of Jesus’ actions, connecting this tradition directly to the events leading up to Jesus’ death.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 11:23

• παρέλαβον (parelabon, “received”): This word means to take or receive something handed over, often used for receiving a tradition or teaching. Paul is stressing that he did not invent this practice; he received it as a sacred trust.
• παρέδωκα (paredōka, “delivered”): This word means to hand over or pass on, the same root as “betrayed” later in the verse. Paul is saying he faithfully passed on what he received, just as it was given to him.
• ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ᾗ παρεδίδετο (en tē nykti hē paredideto, “the same night in which he was betrayed”): The word for “betrayed” (παρεδίδετο, paredideto) is the same word used for “delivered,” linking Judas’ act of betrayal with the idea of handing over something important. This connection adds weight to the moment Jesus chose to establish this practice.

Why 1 Corinthians 11:23 matters

• This verse makes clear that the Lord’s Supper is not just a church tradition, but something rooted in Jesus’ own actions and instructions, giving it special importance for Christians.
• Paul’s careful wording shows that the way Christians remember Jesus’ death is meant to follow Jesus’ own example, not personal preferences or local customs.
• The link between Jesus’ betrayal and the institution of the Lord’s Supper highlights the depth of Jesus’ love and the gravity of the events remembered in Communion.