Although the language in this verse is similar to that of previous verses, Paul is now giving his own interpretation of the tradition rather than repeating the tradition itself.

The cup implies “the cup previously mentioned.”

Here as elsewhere in the passage, bread may be translated as “loaf,” giving a possible translation “each time you eat from this loaf and drink from this cup.”

The word translated you proclaim the Lord’s death may need some expansion or clarification in translation. The word for proclaim is often used of the work of Christian preachers such as the apostles in announcing the “good news” of what Jesus had done (compare 2.1; 9.14). In some languages it may be necessary to say “you are proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death,” “you are telling the story of the Lord’s death,” or “you are telling people once again that Jesus has died.”

Until he comes: the Greek expresses the certainty of a future event. In some languages, including English, a literal translation as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible can be misunderstood as implying that the Lord has not yet come to earth at all. For this reason several translations, including Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, An American Translation, Phillips, and Barclay, have “returns,” “comes back,” or “comes again.”

Even if until he comes is understood as “until he comes back,” the connection of these words with the rest of the sentence is not very clear. It is possible that, as in other places, Paul is thinking more quickly than his secretary can write, and therefore leaving out certain stages in the argument. If this is so here, until he comes may be more connected with as often in the first clause, and with the same phrase in verse 25, than with proclaim the Lord’s death. Until he comes would therefore be an afterthought, rather like “in eating” in verse 21, and “not distinguishing the body” in verse 29. This phrase can also mean “until the goal is reached that he comes.” In such a case one may render this verse as “For until the Lord comes back, every time you eat this bread and drink wine from the cup, you proclaim his death.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .