Therefore, like “so then” in verse 33, is the same Greek word and indicates that Paul is drawing a conclusion from what precedes.

Here as in other passages, Paul uses different expressions to indicate that he is speaking generally and not about a particular individual. These expressions include Whoever (Good News Bible‘s “anyone”) in verse 27, “a man” (Good News Bible‘s “everyone”) in verse 28, and “any one” in verse 34.

Neither the Greek nor Revised Standard Version makes it clear that the phrase of the Lord applies to both the bread and the cup. However, the context and the phrase the bread (not just “bread”) show that Paul is still speaking of the loaf used in the Lord’s Supper. Good News Bible makes this clear by putting “the Lord’s” before bread and writing “his cup” later in the verse. Translators would do well to restructure the verse in a similar way.

As in previous verses, the word for bread may be translated “loaf” or “loaf of bread”; see comments on verse 26.

Drinks the cup is unnatural English, so Good News Bible has “drinks from his cup.”

In an unworthy manner: the implied object here is Christ, so Good News Bible has added “him”: “In a way that dishonors him.” The literal translation unworthy may be misunderstood as suggesting that there are other people who are “worthy” and who do in some way deserve the benefits of the Lord’s Supper, but no such limitation or comparison is implied. The adverb “unworthily” is not used elsewhere in the New Testament, but in 6.2 the related adjective was translated “incompetent.” Where Paul uses the corresponding positive Greek adjective for “worthy,” it is related to the activity of God (Phil 1.27; 1 Thes 2.12) or Christ (Gal 1.10), and to the calling (Eph 4.1) to belong to God’s people (Rom 16.2); compare 2 Thessalonians 1.11, where Paul speaks of God’s making the readers “worthy of the life he has called you to live” (Good News Bible). Moffatt translates “carelessly” in the present verse. Phillips has “without proper reverence,” and Barclay, perhaps overtranslating, has “in a way that contradicts all the Lord meant it to be.” Good News Bible‘s “in a way that dishonors him” may be the best rendering.

Guilty here refers to profaning or “sinning against” Christ’s death on the cross rather than to being responsible for his death. So even though the Greek does not have a word corresponding to profaning, it should be added as Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible have done.

Commentators disagree about the meaning of the body and blood of the Lord. Some think that body refers to the church, but in that case it is difficult to see why Paul adds blood. It is best to read this verse in the light of verses 24-25 and to translate the key terms in the same way.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .