📖 Biblical Definition
The Lord's Supper is the meal Christ instituted on the night He was betrayed (Mt 26, Mk 14, Lk 22, 1 Cor 11) — bread broken as His body, cup poured as His blood, the new covenant in His blood. It is celebrated by the church till he come (1 Cor 11:26): proclamation of His death, communion with His body, anticipation of the marriage supper of the Lamb.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The meal Christ instituted; bread and cup as His body and blood; new-covenant sacrament.
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1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is the locus classicus. Paul received the tradition from the Lord; he delivered it to the Corinthians; they had been celebrating it carelessly; he reformed the practice.
Three primary theological views: transubstantiation (Catholic, the bread and wine become body and blood), consubstantiation / sacramental union (Lutheran, body and blood with the elements), memorial (Zwingli / many Baptist, bread and wine as remembrance), spiritual presence (Reformed / Calvin, Christ truly present spiritually). Most evangelicals hold one of the latter two.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Corinthians 11:24 — "This is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:25 — "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:26 — "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."
Luke 22:19 — "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often celebrates the Lord's Supper without weight; Paul warned that unworthy participation produces real consequences (1 Cor 11:30).
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1 Cor 11:27-30 is sober: whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. Self-examination is required; trifling brings discipline.
The household's recovery: take it seriously, take it often, take it remembering. Bread broken; cup poured; body proclaimed; coming awaited.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek kuriakon deipnon; Lord's supper.
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Greek kuriakon — belonging to the Lord; behind kirk, church.
Greek deipnon — supper, main meal.
Usage
"Bread broken; cup poured; body proclaimed; coming awaited."
"Self-examination is required."
"Till he come."