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Bible Study -
Bible Study
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Contributed by Phil Spadaro
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Friday, 09 February 2007 |
What is the Lord's Supper? What is its purpose? How do we celebrate
communion? Are there any guidelines as to the form of breaking bread
with one another? Although communion and breaking bread are highlighted
throughout the New Testament, there is little detail given as to the
form of the meal. Much is said about the substance or spirit of the
Lord's Supper in the gospels and 1 Corinthians. As we explore the
experience of breaking bread together, we will focus primarily on the
spirit of the meal with diversions into the form occasionally.
As Jesus was preparing for his final hours on earth as a human being, he instituted the Lord's Supper. Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26 and Luke 22:7-23 describe the meal the Lord had with his disciples and the description of the substance of breaking bread during communion. (John 13 alludes the last supper, but does not provide detail concerning the meaning of it.) Jesus chooses to use the Passover meal as a vehicle to establish communion. It is an appropriate parallel to Exodus 12:13, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.“ Both meals commemorate a time of God's mercy to His people.
Matthew 26:26,27 (Luke 22:19-22) reveal the meaning of the Lord's Supper; it represents the body and blood of Christ and is a reminder of the (new) covenant God has established with us. In stead of the Passover lamb, we now have Jesus. Communion is also a time to remember Jesus as described in Luke 22:19. We need an occasional time to remind us of our Lord and his example and the new covenant. Matthew 26:29 also indicates that a “new covenant” communion will not occur until after Jesus is resurrected.
A comment on the spirit of communion is in order. Some have taken the words of Jesus literally in the Gospels; “this is My body” and “this is My blood” (Mt 26:27,28). The belief that the bread and wine actually become the flesh and blood of Christ is called transubstantiation. There are four arguments which refute this understanding of communion. Dr. Douglas Jacoby makes these points:
In John 6 Jesus is speaking about the bread and wine, yet he is physically present with the disciples. How could the communion elements be his body if his body was at the table with the twelve disciples? Drinking blood was strictly against Jewish law. The early Christians understood the bread and wine to be symbolic elements, not the literal body and blood of Christ. If transubstantiation is true, then at every 'mass' Christ is 'sacrificed' again-whereas the book of Hebrews is emphatic that the sacrifice of Christ was 'once for all,' never to be repeated. (Jacoby)
We do not read many detailed accounts in the New Testament concerning communion. Although there are references to “breaking bread” (Acts 2:42, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 10:16) we want to be sure to focus on passages with more explanation of form and substance in regard to the Lord's Supper. The references to breaking bread are probably relating occasions where communion was celebrated, but little detail is given. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 gives us some insight into the practice of communing with Jesus.
Before we dive into the substance and form of the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians, we must understand (or at least be aware of) the context surrounding our text. Paul is addressing the selfishness of the Corinthians. Evidently it was a church with many wealthy members. There experience with social and “fellowship” meals had largely been from secular and pagan “supper clubs”. Traditionally, supper clubs included a pre-meeting for anyone associated with the pagan temple and followed by a more exclusive dinner, revelry, orgy, etc... by the wealthy members. The poor could not afford the membership to the supper clubs (Ferguson). The communion meals in Corinth reflected the same discrimination and unrestrained spirit of the supper clubs. Paul was concerned with the Lord's Supper within this context only. However, there are clues and details revealed by Paul's letter.
The focus of 1 Corinthians 17-32 is the selfishness of wealthy church members during communion. The rich in the church would eat well, while his brother went hungry. Excessive drinking during the Lord's Supper was a problem, as those who indulged were emulating the supper club experience. By engaging in economic segregation, a divide was formed between rich and poor and also between spiritual and worldly (v19). In substance, the communion was a time of unity and togetherness, not division and discrimination.
There are some indicators of the form (at least in Corinth ) of communion. First, it seems to have been a meal. Early writings suggest a family style or fellowship supper reflecting local culture. If we were to follow this pattern, our communion could possible resemble a (light) Thanksgiving meal. Of course, we are not bound to an example in scripture nor to writings outside the Bible, however, a pattern of food, fellowship and worship exists throughout the history of God's people.
Wine was also part of breaking bread in the church in Corinth. In verse 21 Paul chastises the Corinthians for getting drunk, not drinking. This too may have reflected local culture and is not binding. It would certainly be imprudent to serve alcohol in a congregation with a high percentage of recovering alcoholics. Again, local culture and conditions may dictate the form (but not substance) of communion.
Early writings also point to the Lord's Supper as a time of fellowship. Talking and interaction would have been acceptable. A lesson would have been given by the leader of the house church (during or after the main meal) and the bread and wine passed. A 1st (or even 2nd or 3rd) century Christian might be perplexed and befuddled if they observed our communion with the little pieces of bread and little cups. The clues concerning the form of communion are interesting and worth considering, but not a salvation issue, binding or worth arguing.
Verses 27-33 communicates the gravity of one another relationships and their pertinence to the Lord's Supper. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.(v27) Our time of communion does not only point toward God, but our relationships with each other. Divisions, attitudes, hatred, etc... are to be dealt with before partaking in breaking bread with each other. It is a time to “reset” our spiritual kinship with our brothers and sisters and resolve whatever conflict or friction may exist. However, “an unworthy manner” is not limited to relational sins, it can include other iniquities; lust, greed, selfishness, etc... (Remember the context of I Corinthians 11 – Paul was addressing relational sins.) Confession (as a principle, not a rule) , to God and man, before taking communion allows us to have a pure conscience and take the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner.
When should we take Communion? How often should we partake of the Lord's Supper? Some will argue (from Acts 20:7) that breaking bread was strictly limited to once a week on Sunday. There are some inconstancies with this “rule”. First the Jews and Romans accounted for days (and time) differently. Jews considered the first day from sundown on Saturday to sundown on Sunday. Gentiles began the first day at midnight on Sunday and ended it 11:59 pm that evening. A reference to the first could indicate Saturday or Sunday depending on the audience and the author. In Acts 20:1-7 Eutychus falls out of the window after midnight and later breaks bread. This was an account of a gentile place (Troas) to a gentile audience by a Hellenistic writer (Luke). The breaking of bread took probably took place on Monday. (Rick Atchley) The principle behind when, how and how often to take communion is found in Mark 2:27, “Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'” Certainly participating more often than not is good. You do not have to wait for Sunday; have a communion as a family or with your family group.
In conclusion, there are four points to take away from this lesson. Communion is an opportunity to remember sacrifice of Jesus. It is a time to celebrate his resurrection. We are reminded we are part of a body of believers. It is imperative we get our hearts clear of sin beforehand.
References and further reading
Atchley, Rick. The Both/And Church. Richland Hills Church of Christ. 7 Feb 2007 <http://www.rhchurch.org/praise/Both-And_Church.html>
Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. 3rd. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
Hicks, John Mark. Come to the Table, Revisioning the Lord's Supper. Leafwood, 2002.
Jacoby, Douglas. "Q&A 0144 - Communion questions." Douglas Jacoby. 07/16/2003. International Teaching Ministry of Douglas Jacoby. 6 Feb 2007 <http://www.douglasjacoby.com/view_article.php?ID=2595>.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 February 2007 )
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