The commemoration and remembrance of Jesus Christ's last supper, and all the benefits that result to believers. Other terms have been used subsequently by Christians, including “Communion” and “Eucharist”.
Terms for the Lord's Supper in the NT
Acts 2:42 “breaking of bread” could mean both eating together and also celebrating the Lord's Supper; 1 Corinthians 10:16 The Greek word “koinonia”, here translated “participation”, is traditionally translated “communion”: hence the term “Holy Communion”; 1 Corinthians 11:20 the Lord's Supper; 1 Corinthians 11:24 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 parallels Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:17–20
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Celebrating the Lord's Supper in the NT
As part of an ordinary meal
1 Corinthians 11:21 The church was not necessarily wrong to include the sacrament in an ordinary meal; this should have been conducted in a charitable way.
For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.
On the Lord's day
Acts 20:7 See also John 20:26
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
The fourfold formula for breaking bread: taking, giving thanks, breaking, giving
Matthew 26:26 parallels Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19 See also Luke 24:30; John 6:11; 1 Corinthians 11:24
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
The sharing of the cup
1 Corinthians 11:25 parallels Matthew 26:27–28, Mark 14:23–24, Luke 22:20
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Themes connected with the Lord's Supper
The Passover
1 Corinthians 5:7–8 See also John 11:50 Caiaphas' words may have an unintended Passover significance; John 13:1, John 19:14, John 19:33, John 19:36; Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12
Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.
The new covenant
1 Corinthians 11:25 parallels Matthew 26:27–28, Mark 14:23–24, Luke 22:20 The reference to the (new) covenant implies a personal relationship with God and sins forgiven.
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Remembrance
1 Corinthians 11:24 parallel Luke 22:19
and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Thanksgiving, fellowship and unity
1 Corinthians 10:16 See also Matthew 26:26–27 parallels Mark 14:22–23, Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:20–21
Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
The Lord's return
1 Corinthians 11:26 See also Matthew 26:29 parallels Mark 14:25, Luke 22:16; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 22:20
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Separation from sin
1 Corinthians 10:21 Paul is referring to feasts in heathen temples. See also 1 Corinthians 11:27–32
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
A foretaste of heaven
Matthew 26:29 parallel Mark 14:25
I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.