Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:27

"Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." — 1 Corinthians 11:27 (ASV)

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord . . .—Better, Wherefore, whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord.

The entire weight of manuscript evidence is in favor of the conjunction “or,” not “and.” The conjunction “and” was probably retained in the English version lest the disjunctive “or” might seem to favor the practice of receiving in one kind only.

It is, however, clear that if in those early days there was a considerable interval between receiving the bread and the wine, it would have been quite possible for a partaker to have received only one unworthily. The Apostle intimates that in either case, he is guilty.

Sin was the cause of that body being broken and that blood being shed. Therefore, the one who unworthily uses these symbols becomes a participant in the very guilt of those who crucified that body and shed that blood.