An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 77

    Section 28: Lord’s Day 28

    Where has Christ promised that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?

    In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed; “The Lord Jesus, in the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me:a after the same manner he also took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood;b this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.”c This promise is repeated by the holy apostle Paul, where he says, “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? for we, being many, are one bread and one body, because we are all partakers of that one bread.”d

    1. a. 1 Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19

      1 Corinthians 11:23

      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:

      11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,

      Matthew 26:26

      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.

      26:26 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."

      Mark 14:22

      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.

      14:22 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."

      Luke 22:19

      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.

      22:19 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."

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:20

      Exodus 24:8

      24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.

      24:8 So Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

      Hebrews 9:20

      9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

      9:20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep."

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    3. c. Exodus 13:9; 1 Corinthians 11:26

      Exodus 13:9

      13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

      13:9 It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

      1 Corinthians 11:26

      11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

      11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    4. d. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17

      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.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 85

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 85

    Where has hath Christ promised that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with give his Body and Blood so to be eaten and drunken, as they eat of this Bread broken, bread, and drink of this Cup?

    In the Institution of the Supper, which is thus expressed; the Words whereof are these. Our Lord Jesus Christ in the same Night in which that 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 he Likewise also he took the Cup, when he had supped, saying, and said, This Cup, is the new Testament in my Blood; this do ye, as often as ye shall drink it in Remembrance of me: for as often as ye shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye do shew the Lords Death till he come. This Promise, is repeated by the holy apostle St. Paul where he saith, 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? for we being that are many, are one Bread, and one Body, because we are all Partakers of that one Bread.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 77

    Where has Christ promised that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?

    In the institution of the supper, which is thus expressed; “The Lord Jesus, in the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me: after the same manner he also took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” This promise is repeated by the holy apostle Paul, where he says, “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? for we, being many, are one bread and one body, because we are all partakers of that one bread.”

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 85

    Where hath Christ promised that he will as certainly give his Body and Blood so to be eaten and drunken, as they eat this Bread broken, and drink this Cup?

    In the Institution of the Supper, the Words whereof are these. Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Night that 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. Likewise also he took the Cup, when he had supped, and said, This Cup, is the new Testament in my Blood; this do as often as ye shall drink it in Remembrance of me: for as often as ye shall eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, ye shew the Lords Death till he come. This Promise, is repeated by St. Paul where he saith, 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? for we that are many, are one Bread, and one Body, because we are all Partakers of one Bread.

    Commentaries (2)

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

      Where hath Christ promised, that he will as certainely giue his bodie and bloude so to bee eaten and dronken, as they eate this breade broken, and drinke this cup? In the…

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

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

      Where hath Christ promised, that he will as certainlie giue vnto the beleeuers his bodie and his blood in this maner to be eaten and drunke, as they doo eate this bread, beeing…

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text