Indeed. Paul knew this to be True:
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
Fascinating- I have not reviewed that passage in this context for some time.
That many would be ill or perhaps die due to unworthy Communion is interesting indeed.
Some of us are not big fans of “pharmakeia” or the practioners “pharmakyos”.
Focusing on the words you made bold, it appears you are trying to extrapolate the idea that you are supposed to discern the body of Christ 'within the wafer', which is totally absurd...
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
You don't eat the Presence of the Lord, you proclaim his death...
1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Paul said he received of the Lord, not that he received the Lord...
The significant thing is this verse is 'breaking the bread'...We are to remember it represents Jesus' broken body...
You conveniently overlook verse 26 in the passage you quote, which says clearly that it is BREAD when you eat it. And what is in the cup? Blood? No, it is clear: it is the NEW COVENANT IN Jesus’ blood.
You select verses, out of context, to support your pre-established doctrine. But Scripture is clear — even in the verses you quoted — that it is BREAD and WINE, powerful symbols of Jesus’ precious death.
I encourage us all to follow Scripture’s directive to do this “in remembrance of [Jesus].”
Of course, I won’t convince you. So you follow your denomination’s doctrines, and I’ll follow the plain teaching of Scripture.