Lord’s Supper

Terms for the Lord’s Supper in the NT

“breaking of bread” could mean both eating together and also celebrating the Lord’s Supper; The Greek word “koinonia”, here translated “participation”, is traditionally translated “communion”: hence the term “Holy Communion”; the Lord’s Supper; Underlying “had given thanks” is the Greek “eucharisteo”, from which comes the term “Eucharist”.

Jesus Christ’s institution of the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 KJV 1900

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Celebrating the Lord’s Supper in the NT

As part of an ordinary meal

The church was not necessarily wrong to include the sacrament in an ordinary meal; this should have been conducted in a charitable way.

On the Lord’s day

Acts 20:7 KJV 1900

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

See also

The fourfold formula for breaking bread: taking, giving thanks, breaking, giving

Matthew 26:26 KJV 1900

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

See also ; ;

The sharing of the cup

1 Corinthians 11:25 KJV 1900

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Themes connected with the Lord’s Supper

The Passover

1 Corinthians 5:7–8 KJV 1900

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

See also Caiaphas’ words may have an unintended Passover significance; ; ; ; ; ;

The new covenant

The reference to the (new) covenant implies a personal relationship with God and sins forgiven.

Remembrance

1 Corinthians 11:24 KJV 1900

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Thanksgiving, fellowship and unity

1 Corinthians 10:16 KJV 1900

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

See also ;

The Lord’s return

1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV 1900

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

See also ; ;

Separation from sin

Paul is referring to feasts in heathen temples.

See also

A foretaste of heaven

Matthew 26:29 KJV 1900

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.