1 Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break… By the term κοινωνία, does the apostle mean to designate a material participation in the blood of Christ, or a moral participation in its salutary efficacy for the expiation of sins? In the former case we must hold that, as the instantaneous effect of the consecration, a physical act is wrought, either in the form of a transubstantiation, which makes wine the very blood of Christ, or in that of the conjunction of the blood with the wine. But if the real blood of Christ was in one of these two forms offered to the communicant, this so essential element of the rite would certainly be wanting at its institution; for Christ's blood, not yet shed, could not be communicated to the apostles. The reference, therefore, could only be to the blood of His glorified body. But Paul expressly teaches that blood, as a corruptible principle, does not enter as an element into the glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:50). The two theories, Catholic and Lutheran, seem to be overturned by this simple observation. On the other hand, the apostle's words cannot merely denote the profession of faith made by the communicant in the expiatory virtue of Christ's blood, and the thanksgiving with which he accompanies this profession. What does Paul wish to prove by appealing here to the analogy of the Holy Supper? He wishes to demonstrate, by the salutary influence which the communion exercises over the believer's heart, that demons exercise a pernicious one over him who takes part in the sacrificial heathen feasts. The Holy Supper is not, therefore, a simple act of profession and thanksgiving on the believer's part. It is at the same time a real partaking of the grace purchased by Christ, and which He communicates to the devout recipient. (Prof. Godet.) Parallel Verses KJV: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? |
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