Originally Posted by Ben C Smith

1. The translation of that first line is pretty loose here. The Greek expression is quite general, εν τω φαγειν or in the [act of] eating. It does not on its own specify who is or is not eating. In context, if some variety of temporal interpretation is correct, the ones eating at this point are the haves.

2. I actually think the emphasis is on the word own, ιδιον. The timing simply facilitates the well-to-do eating their own dinner apart from those who have nothing, that is, separating the meal from the rite of the eucharist.

3. The verb προλαμβανω typically means to receive beforehand, in a temporal sense. It can also mean to seize, without a real temporal sense, but that meaning would not fit here very well. Doubtless there are other ways to interpret this verb, but the temporal sense seems the most natural to me.

Ben.