What is “the Lord’s Supper”, 1Co 11:20?
The term “the Lord’s Supper” is used quite frequently in various Christian churches, usually to mean “Holy Communion”, the taking of bread and wine. Is this understanding correct? What exactly does the Bible say about it? The term “the Lord’s Supper” is only mentioned once in the Bible, and that is in 1 Corinthians 11:20. Let’s look at the surrounding passage for some context.
1Co 11:17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse.
1Co 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.
1Co 11:19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.
The church in Corinth had some problems. There were divisions among the brethren. Paul went on to give an example.
1Co 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper [deipnon].
1Co 11:21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper [deipnon] ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
1Co 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
When the brethren came together to eat “the Lord’s Supper”, it was chaotic, eating at different times with some going hungry and others getting drunk. Paul uses the term “the Lord’s Supper” without directly defining it. Was it a regular get-together the brethren had every week or month? Or was it something else? The next verses make it clear that it was something else – the partaking of bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus.
1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
The church in Corinth was following what Jesus and His disciples did. Jesus and His disciples ate a Passover meal, which no doubt included a lamb. They undoubtedly washed each other’s feet as Jesus had instructed them.
Joh 13:12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
Joh 13:13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.
Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
It also included the bread and the wine taken in remembrance of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood, again as Jesus had instructed them.
Mat 26:26 And asthey were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
Mat 26:27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
Mat 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The church in Corinth was getting together on Passover night and having a congregational meal in addition to washing each other’s feet and taking the bread and wine. However, things were getting chaotic to a point where it was dishonouring God. Continuing in 1 Corinthians.
1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1Co 11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
The behaviour of some the of the brethren on Passover night was such that they were taking the bread and wine in an unworthy manner.
1Co 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Apparently, this bad behaviour had resulted in sickness for many of them.
1Co 11:33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.
1Co 11:34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
Paul instructed them to wait for one another before starting the congregational meal, and if they really couldn’t wait then have something to eat at home beforehand.
Having read this passage in 1 Corinthians, the clear impression is that the common practice in New Testament times at Passover time was a congregational meal that that included the foot washing ceremony and the bread and wine ceremony. Paul uses the term the “Lord’s Supper” to describe this. (See also ‘How often should ”the Lord’s Supper” be taken?’)
Conclusion
Thus, the term “the Lord’s Supper”, as used by Paul, refers to a congregational meal that that includes the foot washing and the bread and wine ceremonies.