Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin of their wills. 654 Hence they are without excuse.
20. This is not to eat the Lord's supper He now reproves the abuse that had crept in among the Corinthians as to the Lord's Supper, in respect of their mixing up profane banquets with the sacred and spiritual feast, and that too with contempt of the poor. Paul says, that in this way it is not the Lord's supper that is partaken of — not that a single abuse altogether set aside the sacred institution of Christ, and reduced it to nothing, but that they polluted the sacrament by observing it in a wrong way. For we are accustomed to say, in common conversation, that a thing is not done at all, if it is not done aright. Now this was no trivial abuse, as we shall afterwards see. If you understand the words is not as meaning, is not allowable, 655 the meaning will amount to the same thing — that the Corinthians were not in a state of preparation for partaking of the Lord's supper, as being in so divided a state. What I stated a little ago, however, is more simple — that he condemns that profane admixture, which had nothing in it akin to the Lord's Supper.
21. For every one of you taketh before others his own supper. It is truly wonderful, and next to a miracle, 656 that Satan could have accomplished so much in so short a time. We are, however, admonished by this instance, how much antiquity, without reason on its side, can effect, or, in other words, how much influence a long continued custom has, while not sanctioned by a single declaration of the word of God. This, having become customary, was looked upon as lawful. Paul was then at hand to interfere. What then must have been the state of matters after the death of the Apostles? With what liberty Satan must have sported himself. 657 Yet here is the great strength of Papists: "The thing is ancient — it was done long ago — let it, therefore, have the weight of a revelation from heaven."
It is uncertain, however, what was the origin of this abuse, or what was the occasion of its springing up so soon. Chrysostom is of opinion, that it originated in the love-feasts, 658 ({ἀπὸ} {τῶν} {ἀγαπῶν}) and that, while the rich had been accustomed 659 to bring with them from their houses the means of feasting with the poor indiscriminately and in common, they afterwards began to exclude the poor, and to guzzle over their delicacies by themselves. And, certainly, it appears from Tertullian, that that custom
654"Ce qu'ils font, et ce que Satan lear fait faire, ils le font volontairement, et non point par force;" — "What they do, and what Satan makes them do, they do voluntarily, and not from force."
655Paraeus and some others take the words {ὀυκ} {ἔστι} is not, as used for, {ουκ} {ἔξεστι} is not allowable. --- Ed
656"Quasi incroyable;" — "As it were incredible." 657"A ioue ses tours;" — "Have played off his tricks." 658"Vne sorte de banquets qui se faisoyent par charite;" — "A kind of banquets that were held, by way of love."
659"Premierement;" — "At first."