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"If Paul had taught the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, you can bet he would have not called the Lord's body 'bread.'"
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Did Paul Teach The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist?
Brian Culliton
In 1Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul presents us with a good opportunity to catch a glimpse of what he taught concerning communion and perhaps discover for ourselves if he truly taught anything like the real presence doctrine. Paul begins his reprimand of the Corinthians in verse 17 where he makes it very clear that he is displeased with them for coming together for the wrong reasons.
In the early church, the Christians came together for fellowship, praise, learning, communion, and food. The meal they ate was known as a love feast. This love feast finds its roots in Jewish culture where breaking bread and sharing a meal with friends and family was an intimate thing - a sign of oneness.
Pride and money, however, divided the Christians in Corinth. The wealthier among them wanted their recognition while the poorer were left out. They abused the feast with indulgence and greed, and some were even getting drunk. The bread that was supposed to be the symbol of Christ broken body was consumed before some of the congregation even arrived. Paul was very clear in that they deserved no praise for their conduct.
In verse 23 Paul begins to re-instruct the Corinthians concerning coming together for the Lord's Supper. First, he reminds them that what he taught them he received from the Lord. What Paul delivered to the Corinthians was the pure Gospel, as verses 23 through 25 will attest. In these verses, and perhaps verse 26, Paul is restating what he had taught them before when he delivered the Gospel. Take a close look at verse 26. Right after Paul quotes the Lords words, "Take eat; this is My body…" he says, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Notice Paul said "bread." The Catholic Church's real presence doctrine states that the bread, after the priest blesses it, becomes the body and blood of Christ. Doesn't Catholic tradition also state that this doctrine was handed down from the apostles? Why then does Paul call it bread - especially right after quoting the words of Jesus? Why didn't he call the bread "Lord," or the "body of the Lord" as the Catholics do? If Paul had taught the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, you can bet he would have not called the Lord's body bread. If verse 26 isn't convincing enough, Paul continues to use the word bread in the next two verses. In all three cases he refers to the element as bread in the context of eating it, thus we presume it has been blessed.
Also in verse 26 Paul sums up the reason for communion. When Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples He said, "Do this in remembrance of Me." And Paul said, "as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim [show forth] the Lord's death till He comes." There is nothing hidden in these words, nothing implied. Communion is a memorial in which we Christians proclaim and reaffirm our commitment to Christ.
Paul continues his reprimand with a warning: "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." The conduct of some of the Corinthians was so contrary to discipleship that they showed no regard for the sacrifice of Christ or the covenant that is in His blood. Catholic apologists often site this verse as proof that the first Christians regarded the bread as the actual body of Christ. For one to see this verse as proof for the real presence doctrine they would have to strongly believe it already. Taken in context, this verse clearly speaks of the Corinthians disregard for Christ in coming together for what should have been a holy gathering.
Paul told the Corinthians, and is telling us today, to examine ourselves. Are we following Christ? Do we partake of the communal bread discerning the Lord's body that was sacrificed for us? If not, we forsake the blessings of the Lord also as Paul said, "For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep."
If we simply try to understand the situations surrounding Paul's letters to the churches, and read them completely in context, the creative writings of Catholic apologetics won't be able to deceive us.
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