Question: 1 Cor. 11—What is discerning or distinguishing the (Lord’s) body? If there is more than apprehending the unity of the body the church, would you kindly state what it is? R. B. W.
Λ. “Discerning the body” has no reference to apprehending the church’s unity of nature, but means exclusively distinguishing between any ordinary meal and that supper which brings before us the body of Christ given for us. It is the memorial of His death in it, which the Apostle here urges, not our union with Him. Not to discern the (Lord’s) body is to treat this supper as a common thing. It is profanation, not intelligence about the church’s unity.