WHY THE LORD'S SUPPER?
The Lord's Supper proclaims Christ's saving death and is central to many Protestant churches. Lutherans confess Christ's true body and blood given in it; Reformed, Anglican, and other traditions offer different accounts of his presence and the meal's effect.
Historical context
The word 'memorial' does not make all Protestant accounts merely symbolic. Compare the particular confession of a church before describing how it understands Christ's presence, communion, and worthy reception.
Avoid overclaiming
Neither 'all Protestants deny real presence' nor 'all Protestants mean the same thing by real presence' is accurate. Name the confession, the mode of reception it describes, and the limits of the comparison.
Strongest alternative reading
Lutherans confess the true body and blood given in the Supper. The Reformed Westminster confession speaks of real spiritual feeding by faith rather than bodily presence in the elements. Anglican formularies speak of heavenly and spiritual reception; other churches stress memorial proclamation. Orthodox and Catholic teaching cannot be mapped onto a single Protestant alternative.
Key points
- Last Supper
- apostolic assemblies
- Christ's promise
- differing Protestant accounts of his presence
Common questions
- What is received, by whom, and in what manner according to this confession?
- Is a source using 'spiritual' to mean unreal, or to describe communion by the Spirit through faith?
Scripture
- Luke 22:14-20
- 1 Corinthians 10:14-22
- 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
- John 6:35-63
- Exodus 12:1-14; Luke 22:14-20 — The Passover is a memorial of deliverance; Luke places Jesus' meal in a Passover setting and records his words about body, blood, and the new covenant.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-34 — Paul joins participation in Christ and one body to a rebuke of divisions and the humiliation of those who have nothing.
- Matthew 5:23-24; James 2:1-9, 14-17 — Jesus calls for reconciliation before offering a gift; James condemns favoritism toward the rich and a faith that leaves a neighbor without necessities.
Primary sources
Augsburg Confession Article X states:
The Lutheran Augsburg Confession affirms Christ's Body and Blood as truly present.
the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present
Passage context and translation
The Lutheran confession of real presence; Reformed, Anglican, and Baptist accounts differ.
Before the excerpt
Of the Supper of the Lord they teach that
After the excerpt
and are distributed to those who eat the Supper of the Lord
Didache 14 links the Lord's Day assembly and thanksgiving with confession and reconciliation.
But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.
Passage context and translation
Chapter 14 concerns the Lord's Day assembly, breaking bread, thanksgiving, confession, and reconciliation. Its language of sacrifice belongs to that setting. The anonymous document's title is not proof that the twelve apostles wrote it.
Before the excerpt
But every Lord's day gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
Justin says the Eucharist is not received as common bread and drink, and relates it to Christ's incarnate flesh and blood.
For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these
Passage context and translation
Justin explains who may receive the Eucharist and then connects this food with the incarnate Christ. The fuller description of the Sunday assembly follows in chapter 67.
Before the excerpt
And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist]
After the excerpt
so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word ... is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.
Justin's Sunday account connects apostolic and prophetic readings, exhortation, prayer, thanksgiving, and distribution.
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.
Passage context and translation
Justin explains second-century Sunday worship to a Roman audience, including readings, exhortation, prayer, the Eucharist, and care for the poor. This early witness is shared across Christian traditions.
Before the excerpt
And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things.
After the excerpt
Then we all rise together and pray
The same Sunday account includes voluntary gifts supporting orphans, widows, prisoners, strangers, and other people in need.
And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit
Passage context and translation
The same Sunday-worship paragraph describes collection and distribution for orphans, widows, people in need through sickness or another cause, prisoners, and strangers. Justin presents worship and material care together to his Roman audience.
After the excerpt
and what is collected is deposited with the president