QUEM TEM FOME COMA EM CASA: A CEIA DO SENHOR COMO MOMENTO OPORTUNO DE ESTRATIFICAÇÃO SOCIAL NA COMUNIDADE DE CORINTO

Abstract

In the light of the sociological reading of the New Testament, we sought to analyze the Lord's Supper in Corinth. Based on the text of 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34, the present dissertation started from the following problem question: How was the Lord's Supper in Corinth serving as an opportune moment to legitimize the social differences between the participants? Eating and drinking, in this context, is directly related to the individual's social status, a fact that was demonstrated in the quality and quantity of food that the citizen with the highest social status had at his disposal, to the detriment of the others. This practice had gained space at the Lord's Supper, as the text criticizes what was happening in the Church of Corinth. Therefore, this dissertation is divided into three chapters. In the first, the formation of the Corinthian community will be analyzed, with emphasis on the social status of the members of the Christian community there. Then, in chapter two, it is necessary to investigate the patron-client relationship, since, at that time, society was structured in a relationship of exchange of favors, the cultivation of such a relationship allowed the individual to ascend socially, social differences were manifested at employers' banquets. Finally, we will see how the Lord's Supper was serving to show this difference and, because of that, the Supper was not fulfilling its objective, that is, of communion between the participants. It should be noted that the Supper marks the border, establishes limits; therefore, participating in the Supper prevents participants from associating with another cult, such as participating in banquets where meat was sacrificed to the gods of the city (idols). This research is bibliographic in nature, considering the contributions of theorists whose works are relevant to the focus of this study.