THE Lords Supper

THE LORD’S SUPPER

2004-2005

LESSON SIX

I. Chapter Nine

Arguments from other Scripture passages which expressly refer to the dogma of the Lord’s Supper, 1Cor. 10 and 11.

A. Look now to other passages.

1. Not the unrelated ones.

2. But the ones in which express mention made of the dogma of the Supper.

B. Paul will:

1. Not only mention the dogma.

2. But on basis of words of institution.

a. Develop and formulate weighty arguments.

b. To serve as earnest warnings and exhortations.

C. Therefore, Paul can not use obscure, uncertain or ambiguous passages for this.

II. 1Co 11:27

A. Paul uses a subordinate particle here (Hōste – therefore)

1. Thereby joins statement to the account of the institution.

2. Shows statement concerning guilt logically follows words of institution.

B. Here says “whoever”:

1. “eats the bread”

a. Chemnitz emphasizes “this bread”: T.R. (ton arton touton).

b. The bread just identified.

2. “or drinks the cup”.

3. “Hoste” clearly shows which bread and cup.

C. “unworthily”

1. In a way not fitting for this Supper or that which is distributed and received.

2. cf “worthy”.

a. Eph 4:1.

b. Php 1:27.

c. Col 1:10.

3. “unworthy eating”.

a. No reverence (vv20-22).

b. Nourishing hatred in their hearts.

c. Despising the church.

d. Shaming the poor.

e. Not abstaining from idolatrous practices.

f. Even coming drunk.

g. Without true repentance and living faith.

4. Adds warning regarding the guilt which attaches to unworthy communing.

a. It is the reason why punishment must take place.

b. It is the punishment or penalty itself.

c. v27:lit: “guilty will be of the body and of the blood of [the] Lord”.

(1) This does not describe the punishment itself or the kind of penalty.

(2) He does that with “He eats judgment to himself” in v.29.

5. But what thing has he violated to bring this penalty upon himself?

a. Only some violation of some symbols? (per adversaries).

b. He is guilty “of the body and blood of the Lord”.

c. Therefore, it must be the very body and very blood.

d. They inflict injury and insult not to symbols, but the very body and blood of Christ.

6. A person can be guilty of the body and blood of Christ in various ways.

a. Rejecting Him by carnal security.

b. Being unwilling to suffer.

c. By godless intention.

d. Despising the Christ hidden in the Word and sacraments.

e. Or, by unbelief and thus profaning the blood of the covenant (Heb 10:29).

7. Here (in 1Co 11:27) Paul describes a particular and peculiar mode of profanation and violation of the body of Christ.

a. Judgment incurred not by rejecting but by eating.

b. “eats and drinks judgment on himself” (v29).

c. The force of statement lies in “Hoste” (IIA above)

III. 1Co 11:29.

A. Statement must be treated as cohering with v27 and words of institution in a continuous context.

B. Why do people “eat unworthily”.

1. For worthy eating, there must be a discerning of the Lord’s body.

2. Gk:ho gar esthiōn kai pinōn krima heautō esthiei kai pinei mē diakpinōn to sōma: For – the one eating and drinking judgment to himself eats and drinks [when] not discerning the body. (v29).

3. “discern”: means to distinguish one thing from another.

4. (e.g. Ac 15:9 and Jude 22f)

5. i.e. they fail to recognize His true presence and to attribute to Him due honor.

C. He requires this kind of discrimination.

1. That we discern the bread of this Supper.

2. Distinguish it from other bread.

3. Acknowledge His true honor.

4. And, in accordance with His Word, attribute to Him by our discernment the preeminence which is due Him.

D. Paul is quite clear: This bread must be discerned as His body, or will be eating judgment to oneself.

E. All this clearly confirms words to be taken in natural meaning.

F. To “play” with His words is dangerous!

IV. 1Co 10:16

A. Gk. Here is “eulogias” [“blessing”] which “eulogoumen” [“we bless”].

B. Opponents contend that.

1. Since Paul says the cup and bread are “the communion of the blood/body of Christ.

2. Must be figurative not literal.

C. “Communion” (“participation”:NIV):koinōnia

D. Chp. 7 rule: If figurative in one passage, then explained simply and literally elsewhere.

1. Opponents’ argument requires figurative both in Chapter 10 and words of institution.

2. They say also “communion” is a metonymy and interpret the communication (or communion) as a symbol of the communication.

3. If either passage is figurative, however, then interpretation of words of institution can not be derived from 1Co 10.

4. Otherwise, no dogma is established because a figure of speech is not explained by other than proper and simple language.

E. Koinōnia actually never excludes or removes the substance itself from the action in which the “communion” takes place.

1. e.g. Ro 8:9 says same thing as 2Co 13:14 (“communion of the Spirit”)

2. e.g. gifts of charity in Ro 15:26 and 2 Co 8:4.

3. Koinōnia means a communication.

a. Sometimes actively, i.e. a distribution.

b. Sometimes passively, i.e. a participation.

c. And sometimes the thing itself which is offered and received.

F. What is Paul really saying?

1. 1Co 10:15: the Corinthians already knew and understood what he was going to say about the communion of the body and blood with the bread and wine.

2. He had already taught them: 1Co 11:23.

3. He is subordinating his statements in 1Co 10 to the words of institution.

4. His words in 1Co 10 clearly refer to and express the whole account of the institution.

a. “the cup of blessing which we bless” and words of institution.

b. We do bless God in the Supper when we thank Him for all the benefits He gives through His Son and through His Word and sacrament.

c. Also, he refers to the cup itself.

d. Therefore, when this Word comes to the element, so that it becomes a sacrament, then the cup is called the cup of blessing.

e. Same for bread.

G. About the rest of the words there is no controversy.

H. Koinōnia does have many meanings.

1. e.g. a society, a fellowship, an association, the right of participation.

2. But, Paul clearly explains his use here.

a. 1Co 10:21: “they partake of the table of the Lord”.

b. 1Co 10:17.

c. Even Calvin conceded word here in 1Co 10:16 refers to a partaking [or participation].

I. Question remains as to what this “communion” of the body and blood of the Lord in the Supper is or how it takes place.

1. Adversaries: only “spiritual”.

2. Adversaries: His body is far removed from us; we “ascend” through faith.

3. But Paul refers the entire statement to the words of institution.

4. Judge the statement by the words of institution, not by conjecture.

5. Not “one bread” for all the church, but “one Body”.

6. 1Co 10:18-22.

a. He teaches the substance of the Supper first.

b. He points out the salutary use next.

c. Then he points out the unworthy use brings not salvation but judgment.

d. It is not just an ascent by those of faith!

e. 1Co 11:27!