An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 75

    Section 28: Lord’s Day 28

    How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits?

    Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers, to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, in remembrance of him; adding these promises: first, that his body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and his blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes, the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me: and further, that he feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with his crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.a

    1. a. Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:23–25

      Matthew 26:26–28

      26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

      26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." 26:27 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

      Mark 14:22–24

      14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

      14:22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it; this is My body." 14:23 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 14:24 He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

      Luke 22:19–20

      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. 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

      22:19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 22:20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

      1 Corinthians 10:16–17

      10:16 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? 10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

      10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 10:17 Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

      1 Corinthians 11:23–25

      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: 11:24 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. 11:25 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.

      11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 11:25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

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    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 83

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 83

    How art thou admonished and assured in the Lords Supper admonished and warranted that thou art a Partaker of that one only Sacrifice of Christ accomplished offered on the Cross, and of all his Benefits?

    Thus: That Because Christ hath commanded me and all believers, the Faithful to eat of this broken bread, Bread broken, and to drink of this Cup, distributed in Remembrance of him, adding these promises: with this Promise adjoyned, first, that his Body was offered and on the cross as certainly broken and offered for me upon the Cross, and his Blood shed for me, as certainly as I see behold with my Eyes the Bread of the Lord broken for unto me, and the Cup communicated to unto me: and further, that he feeds and nourishes my Soul is no less assuredly fed to everlasting life with his crucified Body, which was crucified for me, and shed as assuredly as his Blood which was shed for me, than I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my by the Mouth of my Body, the Bread and cup of Wine, the Lord, as certain Signs of the Body and Blood of Christ.our Lord, received at the Hand of the Minister.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 75

    How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits?

    Thus: That Christ has commanded me and all believers, to eat of this broken bread, and to drink of this cup, in remembrance of him; adding these promises: first, that his body was offered and broken on the cross for me, and his blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes, the bread of the Lord broken for me, and the cup communicated to me: and further, that he feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, with his crucified body and shed blood, as assuredly as I receive from the hands of the minister, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, as certain signs of the body and blood of Christ.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 83

    How art thou in the Lords Supper admonished and warranted that thou art Partaker of that only Sacrifice of Christ offered on the Cross, and of all his Benefits?

    Because Christ hath commanded me and all the Faithful to eat of this Bread broken, and to drink of this Cup, distributed in Remembrance of him, with this Promise adjoyned, first, that his Body was as certainly broken and offered for me upon the Cross, and his Blood shed for me, as I behold with my Eyes the Bread of the Lord broken unto me, and the Cup communicated unto me: and further, that my Soul is no less assuredly fed to everlasting life with his Body, which was crucified for me, and his Blood which was shed for me, than I receive and taste by the Mouth of my Body, the Bread and Wine, the Signs of the Body and Blood of our Lord, received at the Hand of the Minister.

    Commentaries (2)

    • Zacharias Ursinus, 1587, The Summe of Christian Religion (2 parts)

      How art thou in the Lords Supper admonished and warranted, that thou art partaker of that onely sacrifice of Christ offered on the Crosse, and of all his benefites? Because Christ…

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

    • Jeremias Bastingius, 1591, A Catechisme of Christian Religion, with the Arguments and Use

      THE ARGVMENT. The application of the former doctrine of Sacraments to the Supper of the Lord: 2. A description of the spirituall Supper: 3. The confirmation thereof. How art thou…

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text