Questioning "The Lord's Supper"
There has been a strong objection to Paul using the term "Lords Supper" instead of using the traditional term Passover relating to the institution of the remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus. This objection was published about twenty years ago but I recently learned about it. At the core of the objection was the use of the term "heresy" as it related to the term Lords Supper. The following is one of many similar quotes that were registered. "It was heresy to call it the Lords Supper". Was it right or not to call the remembrance, instituted on the night of Jesus' last passover, the "Lords Supper"?
1Co 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
1Co 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisionsG4978 among you; and I partly believe it.
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresiesG139 among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
1Co 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
It is absolutely essential to understand the true meaning of the term "heresy", as I had said it was at the core of the objection. This is from Strong's.
G139 hah'ee-res-is
From G138; properly a choice, that is, (specifically) a party or (abstractly) disunion. (“heresy” is the Greek word itself.): - heresy [which is the Greek word itself], sect.
It is interesting the word has a Greek pronunciation very similar to the English word "heresy" but its actual meaning is very different than the English language meaning for the word. The word "heresy" was used in a few translations but "factions", "sects", "divisions" and "groups" were mainly used. The following translations (only the initials) used words other than "heresy": ISV, LEB, LSV, YLT, APB, ASV, BBE, ERV, ESV and the New King James uses "factions". When looking at Strong's definition we can see that the word party is referencing a "group" or groups of people. It also can mean having a "choice" of most likely ideas or parties. The word has been principally used as factions or sects. Factions or sects are groups (parties) of people. They are not the thoughts or ideas or practices of the factions or sects. It requires thoughtful consideration for Paul or others to say that "It was heresy to call it the Lords Supper". Parties, sects, or factions are only groups of people, it doesn’t include their thoughts.
Young's Literal Translation: 1Co 11:19 for it behoveth sects also to be among you, that those approved may become manifest among you;
Once again the contemporary meaning of heresy relates to the thoughts and practices that are contrary to established doctrine or thoughts and practices of denial or dissent of dominant opinion.
The Merriam-Webster definition for heresy is:
1a : adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma (see dogma sense 2)
b : denial of a revealed truth by a baptized member of the Roman Catholic Church
c : an opinion or doctrine contrary to church dogma
2a : dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice
b : an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standards
It is important also know Strong's meaning for the term "divisions".
G4978 skhis'-mah
From G4977; a split or gap (“schism”), literally or figuratively: - division, rent, schism.
Paul is giving us a significant truth in verse 19. He has heard that "there be divisions among you". He said that "there must also be heresies (factions or sects) among you". The sects have to be there in order that the people who are thinking and doing right may be made known. This is a very strong condemnation of the various sects. And apparently the sects were causing divisions. Yet they had to be there.
Then in 1 Cor 11:21 of the KJV Paul said "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper". The KJV makes it sound like the verse is only referencing people eating before others, others not having a supper, and people getting drunk. This is misleading. Young's Literal Translation, a highly respected translation, indicates there is more to this verse. There is an important difference of wording in the YLT compared to the KJV for the 21st verse. I might mention the Literal Standard Version used the same sentence structure as the YLT.
YLT: 1Co 11:21 for each his own supper doth take before in the eating, and one is hungry, and another is drunk; (the italicized word other in the KJV is not used)
The YLT shows us they took their own supper before something. That something was "in the eating". When looking at the context of the previous verse, it makes sense that they took their own supper before "in the eating" (of the Lord's Supper). It may be helpful to look at the word "before"G4301 as it is used in verse 21 of the KJV. The word "before" was used in both the KJV and the YLT and I think it is safe to say it was the same word in both translations (no Strong's given for the YLT).
G4301 prol-am-ban'-o
From G4253 and G2983; to take in advance, that is, (literally) eat before others have an opportunity; (figuratively) to anticipate, surprise: - come aforehand, overtake, take before.
Then in verse 22 Paul chastises the factions or sects for their thoughts and actions that are contrary to the reason they are gathered together. The reason they are gathered is to keep the "Lords Supper". That supper is fulfilled by the conscientious eating the unleavened bread and drinking the wine --- not for the purpose of having personal dinners for some and not for others and the drunkenness of some. The principle reason for coming together was to be for the purpose of the remembrance of the Lords Supper. This was a significant change from observing a "passover" in remembrance of the saving of the firstborn in Egypt to a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. On the night of the last passover the Lord's Supper was followed by Jesus giving the disciples the foundation of the New Testament. John chapters 14-17 records the words of Jesus that provides the means or information that would lead to our salvation.
The Bible has so many single verses that give us very important information (see Single Verses Imbued With Great Importance). It is not the case with this subject. In the gospel of John and in chapter 6 Jesus goes to, I think, great lengths to tell why we must eat that bread and drink that wine, which Paul called "the Lord's Supper", if we are to have any part with Him.
Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
Joh 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
Joh 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
Today, we can question why Paul did not use the term passover in 1 Corinthians 11:20 for the period of time generally referred to as "passover"? He used instead the term “Lords Supper” for good reason. Israel came out of Egypt and its influence, being a type of sin. We are coming out of our own human nature and the “deadly” influence it imposes on us. To do that requires the power of Gods own Spirit working in us. That Spirit was never given to the physical nation of Israel. That power is given to us and that power is embodied in the meaning of the “bread” and the “wine” that we receive at the Lords Supper.
The Old Testament passover has been replaced. This period is now a serious time without parallel when we may deeply look into the love of God. God's love was made evident by the sacrifice of Jesus for us and providing us the gift of our opportunity to replace our "vain" nature (of no value) with our Savior's nature. Through the deepening love of God that is growing in us we may be an example of the way of Jesus and his Father. And our example would extend to all that may follow God in the ages to come.
I have a question as a final thought. What are the chances that those who didn't share a dinner with those who had little or no food kept the Lord's Supper unworthily? I think the chances may be pretty good and Paul has something to say about it.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1Co 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall 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 that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.