Do you view Holy Communion as Literal or Symbolic?

Acts 11:19-12:25

Easy-to-Read Version



The Good News Comes to Antioch
19 The believers were scattered by the persecution[a] that began when Stephen was killed. Some of them went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They told the Good News in these places, but only to Jews. 20 Some of these believers were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. When these men came to Antioch, they began speaking to people who were not Jews. They told them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord was helping these men, and a large number of people believed and decided to follow the Lord.
22 When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23-24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. When he went to Antioch and saw how God had blessed the believers there, he was very happy. He encouraged them all, saying, “Always be faithful to the Lord. Serve him with all your heart.” Many more people became followers of the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They stayed there a whole year. Every time the church came together, Barnabas and Saul met with them and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the followers of the Lord Jesus were called “Christ-followers” for the first time.
27 About that same time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Spirit. He said, “A very bad time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food for people to eat.” (This time of famine happened when Claudius was emperor.) 29 The Lord’s followers decided that they would each send as much as they could to help their brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. 30 They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who took it to the elders in Judea.
More Trouble for the Believers
12 During this same time, King Herod began to do harm to some of those who were part of the church. 2 He ordered James, the brother of John, to be killed with a sword. 3 Herod saw that many of the Jews liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 He arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival. 5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.
Peter Is Led Out of the Jail
6 One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8 The angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did as he was told. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.”
9 So the angel went out and Peter followed. He did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision. 10 Peter and the angel went past the first guard and the second guard. Then they came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened for them by itself. After they went through the gate and walked about a block, the angel suddenly left.
11 Peter realized then what had happened. He thought, “Now I know that the Lord really sent his angel to me. He rescued me from Herod and from everything those Jews thought would happen to me.”
12 When Peter realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John, who was also called Mark. Many people were gathered there and were praying. 13 Peter knocked on the outside door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and she was very happy. She even forgot to open the door. She ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” 15 The believers said to her, “You are crazy!” But she continued to say that it was true. So they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”
16 But Peter continued to knock. When the believers opened the door, they saw him. They were amazed. 17 Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained to them how the Lord led him out of the jail. He said, “Tell James and the other brothers what happened.” Then he left and went to another place.
18 The next day the soldiers were very upset. They wondered what happened to Peter. 19 Herod looked everywhere for him but could not find him. So he questioned the guards and then ordered that they be killed.
The Death of Herod Agrippa
Later, Herod moved from Judea. He went to the city of Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 Herod was very angry with the people from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. But these cities needed food from his country, so a group of them came to ask him for peace. They were able to get Blastus, the king’s personal servant, on their side.
21 Herod decided on a day to meet with them. On that day he was wearing a beautiful royal robe. He sat on his throne and made a speech to the people. 22 The people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” 23 Herod did not give the glory to God. So an angel of the Lord caused him to get sick. He was eaten by worms inside him, and he died.
24 The message of God was spreading, reaching more and more people.
25 After Barnabas and Saul finished their work in Jerusalem, they returned to Antioch, taking John Mark with them.

rth

Obviously symbolic. Jesus was not a loaf of bread. Jesus was the Son of God manifest as a man, not a loaf of bread.

Jesus did not turn into a piece of bread then, and He is not doing it now. Sacraments are symbolic by definition.

First, you do not make a doctrine out of one verse of scripture. having been to Bible College and studied theology that is a no no.
Second, the breaking bread is a meal, not a sip of wine and a piece of bread. I found out that fact after studying 60 books on the subject.
Third. On the first day of the week is not necessarily a correct translation. Many translate it as one day of the week in the original Greek.

No their actions at the meal are what that chapter is all about.
20. The point is when you hold these meetings, it is not the Lord's Supper you are EATING.
21. since when the time comes to EAT, everyone is in a hurry to start his own SUPPER, one person goes hungry whilst another is getting drunk
PLEASE TELL ME how a piece of bread will stop a person from being hungry?
PLEASE TELL ME how a person can get drunk on a sip of wine?

Hi Must. Keep reading 1 Cor 11 and what Holy Communion is will become apparent. You could also read what the Early Church Fathers - some of whom were direct disciples of the Apostles, like St. Ignatius of Antioch was of St. John the Apostle - wrote about it here:

"Many Catholics and non-Catholics alike think that the Roman Catholic Church invented the doctrine of transubstantiation. Transubstantiation means that the bread and wine presented on the altar at the Mass become the the Body and Blood of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit at the consecration. The consecration is the time when the priest calls upon the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into Christ's Body and Blood. However, the Body and Blood retain the appearance of bread and wine. The Roman Catholic Church, that is, the Latin Rite Catholic Church, and other Catholic Churches in communion with Rome believe that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, body, blood, soul and divinity. The Orthodox Churches and most other Churches of the East do so as well. Anglican [Episcopalian] and other Protestant denominations have interpreted Christ's presence at the celebration of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist to be either only spiritual, or symbolic, or non-existent.

Thus, I decided to research what the Early Christians believed on this issue. I searched the indices for "Eucharist" in many volume sets on Early Christian writings, and I was astonished at my discovery. The Early Christians actually took the Real Presence for granted. It doesn't even seem as if there was much debate. I could not find anyone who denied the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament before the year 500 A.D. Following are the results of my search."

From: http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html

And here is St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

24 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.

25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

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.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

How can the underlined be, if Holy Communion is just a symbol? A picture is a symbol. If someone tears up a picture of your wife, is he guilty of body and blood of your wife? Clearly not. The underlined in verse 27 of 1 Cor 11 can only be the case if Communion is literal.

God Bless.

Jesus views it as .. "do this in remembrance of Me"

In my two-year study of the subject involving 60 books, it became very clear that no wine became blood and no bread became human flesh. Jews were forbidden to drink human blood or eat human flesh.

How does one get drunk on grape juice?

It is symbolic of Jesus' body and blood and Jesus said to the disciples this is my body and this is my blood before He died so how was it really his body and blood.

Jesus did not really mean to eat of his flesh and blood.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

We do communion in remembrance of what Jesus did not as a sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus gave His body and blood once not as sacrifices by communion.

The Catholic Church has so many practices and traditions that are not required of God.

The Bible says love is the fulfilling of the law which if you love people which includes caring about their needs then you are right with God. so why all the extra things that the Catholics do.

I believe it is bondage; I was in it for 27 years, Until I met The Real
LORD JESUS CHRIST. There is nothing like "Freedom And Liberty, In Him!"

GRACE And Peace...

I suppose we will all have to rely on your translation then.

amen it’s not literal of figurative it’s an act that is formed and based upon faith hearing what is there and believing

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭

a non believer would t take communion there’s no basis for them to do so , a person who’s heard the gospel and understand the body and blood of atonement and communion will desire and want to partake of what the lord said to partake of

that’s faith. “Get baptized in Jesus name and I’ll remit your sins “ said the lord d says faith but who would hear it ?

this is my body do this in remembrance of me , this is the cup of my blood of the new testsment shed for remission of your sins , do this in remembrance of me “

this is the basis for faith if we reject it as “ symbolic “ we’re rejecting what the lord said it’s significance is in partaking Which Paul makes really plain and clear

Verses like this prove plainly it’s an actual practice performed by the church based on what Jesus said bout his body and blood

“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed 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: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.


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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:23-29‬ ‭

this leaves no room for it to be “figurative or “symbolic “ too often we spiritualize away what’s made plain as instruction and explains it’s significance also but we wonder if it’s real we wonder if it’s true we wonder if it’s important or if it “really Means “what it says it means

this works against faith faith tells us communions significance and place in our faith , and doubt makes us question whether it’s true and applicable

when we learn something we’re meant to bank on it and move on. So once we understand communions significance we should start looking to partake in good conscience in repentance and trusting in his sacrifice to cover our misdeeds and shortcomings

Every Greek Scholar I know translates it as first day.

Matthew 21:28
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Matthew 26:17
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Matthew 27:64
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Matthew 28:1
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Mark 14:12
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Mark 16:2
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Luke 24:1
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
John 20:19
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 20:7
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Acts 20:18
And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
1 Corinthians 16:2
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Philippians 1:5
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2 Peter 3:3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=first+day&begin=47&end=73

read to here

Yeah. Makes one puke doesn't it.

Tradition is good sometimes and most of the time it is extremely BAD. And why is that? Because it keeps you confined in a straightjacket of incorrect translation of scripture.

But we have always done things this way??? That suggests to me by the sparse bums on seats that it is time to do it another way.

What people are really saying is I don't want to change or I am not going to change. What I say is Lord come quickly and get rid of all that which is preventing you from doing what you want to do.

Sad to say what was His Church has become our church and God does not have much say in what goes on. He seems to have to get permission to wield his authority.

There must be a dozen different ways we can do and be church yet most support only one way. The hymn prayer Sunday morning Sandwich. The church seems to believe that is the only way God will attend our church. If we do things differently he won't come. Here is a little secret for you. He never came in the first place.

What does the repetitious hymn prayer sandwich tell us? We never asked God in the first place what he wanted.

In scripture the first day of the week is not Sunday