Importance of Self-Examination Before Receiving Communion
The Apostle Paul commands believers to "examine himself" before partaking of the bread and cup [2, 4], a directive rooted in his rebuke of the Corinthian church for abuses surrounding the Lord's Supper. Yet Christian traditions diverge sharply on what this examination entails, who may participate, and what consequences follow from unworthy reception.
The Reformed and Presbyterian Position
Reformed theology emphasizes rigorous self-examination as a prerequisite for communion. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary insists believers must "prove" or "test" their own state of mind regarding Christ's death and their capacity for "discerning the Lord's body" [6]. This examination is not merely introspective but doctrinal: John Gill specifies that communicants must assess whether they possess "a true sense of sin, sorrow and repentance," whether they are "in the faith," and whether they demonstrate love to Christ and the saints [8]. Calvin warns that those "without any spark of faith, without any zeal for charity" who approach the table "rush forward like swine," profaning Christ's body and drinking judgment upon themselves [7]. Crucially, this tradition rejects auricular confession to a priest, insisting that self-examination is the believer's own responsibility [6]. The goal is not exclusion but preparation: after due examination, the believer is to eat and drink [6].
The Broader Protestant Consensus
Most Protestant traditions share the conviction that self-examination is "necessary before the communion" [1, 3], grounded in 1 Corinthians 11:28. This examination should be conducted "with holy awe," "with diligent search," and "with prayer for divine searching" [1]. The purpose extends beyond the moment of reception: it aims at "amendment" of life [1]. Paul's warning that unworthy partakers are "guilty" [3] and that failure to discern the Lord's body brings judgment [7] underscores the seriousness of the act. Yet the emphasis remains pastoral: self-examination is meant to prevent believers from incurring judgment by recognizing their need for Christ's atoning work [5].
Shared Ground and Divergence
All traditions agree that communion is not a casual meal but a proclamation of Christ's death "until he comes" [5], requiring spiritual preparation. The disagreement centers on the nature and depth of examination. Reformed traditions demand doctrinal clarity and evidence of regeneration; other Protestant groups may emphasize moral readiness or simple faith. The hermeneutical divide reflects differing views of the sacrament itself: whether the Supper is primarily a means of grace for believers or a memorial requiring demonstrated worthiness.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Examination — Enjoined -- 2Co 13:5. Necessary before the communion -- 1Co 11:28. Cause of difficulty in -- Jer 17:9. Should be engaged in With holy awe. -- Ps 4:4. With diligent search. -- Ps 77:6; La 3:40. With prayer for divine searching. -- Ps 26:2; 139:23,24. With purpose of amendment. -- Ps 119:59; La 3:40. Advantages of -- 1Co 11:31; Ga 6:4; 1Jo 3:20-22.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 11:28 (BSB) — Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion of the Lord's Supper — Prefigured -- Ex 12:21-28; 1Co 5:7,8. Instituted -- Mt 26:26; 1Co 11:23. Object of -- Lu 22:19; 1Co 11:24,26. Is the communion of the body and blood of Christ -- 1Co 10:16. Both bread and wine are necessary to be received in -- Mt 26:27; 1Co 11:26. Self-examination commanded before partaking of -- 1Co 11:28,31. Newness of heart and life necessary to the worthy partaking of -- 1Co 5:7,8. Partakers of, be wholly separate to God -- 1Co 10:21. Was continually partaken of, by the Church -- Ac 2:42; 20:7. Unworthy partakers of Are guilty of”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 11:28 (NASB) — But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 11:26: 11:26 In taking the Lord’s Supper, Christians proclaim the saving significance of the Lord’s death to those around them until he comes again (see 1:7-8; cp. 1 Thes 1:9-10; 3:12; 4:13-18; 5:23).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:28: examine--Greek, "prove" or "test" his own state of mind in respect to Christ's death, and his capability of "discerning the Lord's body" (Co1 11:29, Co1 11:31). Not auricular confession to a priest, but self-examination is necessary. so--after due self-examination. of . . . of--In Co1 11:27, where the receiving was unworthily, the expression was, "eat this bread, drink . . . cup" without "of." Here the "of" implies due circumspection in communicating [BENGEL]. let him eat--His self-examination is not in order that he may stay away, but th”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 99: and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” ( 1 Cor. 11:27 , 29 ). For men of this description, who without any spark of faith, without any zeal for charity, rush forward like swine to seize the Lord’s Supper, do not at all discern the Lord’s body. For, inasmuch as they do not believe that body to be their life, they put every possible affront upon it, stripping it of all its dignity, and profane and contaminate it by so receiving; inasmuch as while alienated and estranged from their brethren, they dare to mi”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:27: But let a man examine himself,.... Whether he has a true sense of sin, sorrow and repentance for it; otherwise he will see no need of a Saviour, nor will he look to Christ for salvation, or be thankful to him for redemption by him; all which are necessary in a due observance of this ordinance; also, whether he is in the faith, whether he is a partaker of the true grace of faith, which is attended with good works, and shows itself by love to Christ, and to the saints; whereby a man goes out of himself to Christ for spiritual food and strength, peace and comfort”