What is the Lord's Supper?

On the night of his betrayal, at the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus gave the bread and cup a new meaning. Paul passes on to the Corinthians what he "received of the Lord": Jesus "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" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Paul adds, "as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The meal goes by several names. "The Lord's Supper" comes from 1 Corinthians 11:20; "Communion" from 1 Corinthians 10:16, which calls the cup and bread "the communion of the blood of Christ" and "the communion of the body of Christ"; and "Eucharist" from the Greek word for giving thanks. Acts 2:42 speaks of "breaking of bread." Christians broadly agree that the Supper was commanded by Christ, that it looks back to his sacrifice and forward to his return, and that it should be received with self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28). They differ on how Christ is present in it. Roman Catholics teach transubstantiation, that the bread and wine become Christ's body and blood. Eastern Orthodox Christians affirm a real change while leaving its manner a mystery. Lutherans teach that Christ's body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. Reformed churches speak of a real spiritual presence received by faith, and many Baptists and other evangelicals understand the Supper mainly as a memorial and proclamation. In every tradition, it gathers believers around the remembrance of Christ's love.

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