Volume 25: Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper, Eucharistic Theology & the New Covenant Meal
Holy Communion examines the sacred covenant meal instituted by Jesus Christ in the Upper Room on the night before His crucifixion. It analyzes the Passover roots of the bread and cup, and compares the historic Western Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, and Baptist views on Christ's presence in the elements.
The biblical institution, liturgical practice, and theological interpretations of the Lord's Supper: Transubstantiation, Consubstantiation, Real Presence, and Memorialism.
Key facts
- Jesus transformed the traditional Jewish Passover Seder by presenting the unleavened bread as His broken body and the wine as the blood of the New Covenant.
- Four major Eucharistic views exist: Transubstantiation (Rome), Consubstantiation (Luther), Spiritual Real Presence (Calvin), and Memorialism (Zwingli).
- The Apostle Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11 against partaking of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner without discerning the Lord's body and examining oneself.
- Communion looks in three temporal directions: back to the Cross, upward in present spiritual fellowship, and forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Frequently asked questions
What did Jesus mean by 'This is my body'?
Historic Roman Catholicism views this as metaphysical change of substance; Lutherans see Christ present 'in, with, and under' the elements; Reformed view Christ spiritually present by the Spirit; Baptists see a symbolic memorial.
What were the Passover connections to the Last Supper?
The bread was the afikoman, unbroken and striped, while the cup was the third cup of the Seder—the Cup of Redemption—signifying liberation from the slavery of sin.
What does it mean to take communion 'unworthily'?
In 1 Corinthians 11, taking communion unworthily meant treating the sacred feast flippantly, causing division, humiliating the poor, or harboring unrepentant sin against fellow believers.
How often should a church observe Holy Communion?
The New Testament does not mandate a specific frequency, stating only 'as often as you drink it' (1 Cor 11:26); practices range from daily and weekly to monthly or quarterly.