An Orthodox Catechism

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus

    Question 79

    Section 29: Lord’s Day 29

    Why then doth Christ call the bread his body, and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood; and Paul the “Communion of the body and blood of Christ?”

    Christ speaks thus, not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us, that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so his crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink, whereby our souls are fed to eternal life;a but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us, that we are as really partakers of this true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of him;b and that all his sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours, as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.c

    1. a. John 6:51, 55–56

      John 6:51; John 6:55–56

      6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

      6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh." 6:55 For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink. 6:56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. 1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 11:26–28; Ephesians 5:30

      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 11:26–28

      11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 11:27 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. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

      11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 11:28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

      Ephesians 5:30

      5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

      5:30 For we are members of His body.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    3. c. Romans 5:9, 18–19; 8:4

      Romans 5:9; Romans 5:18–19

      5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

      5:9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! 5:18 So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

      Romans 8:4

      8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

      8:4 so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes in An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 87

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 87

    Why then doth Christ call the Bread his Body, and the Cup his Blood, or the new covenant Testament in his Blood; and St. Paul calleth Bread and Wine the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ?

    Christ speaks thus, not without great reason, namely, Consideration speaketh so, to wit, not only thereby for to teach us that as the Bread and Wine support this temporal sustain the Life of the Body, so also his crucified Body, and shed Blood shed, are indeed the true Meat and Drink whereby of our Souls, whereby they are fed nourished to eternal Life; but much more especially that by these this visible signs Signe and pledges to Pledg, he may assure us that we are as really verily Partakers of this true his Body and Blood, (by through the operation working of the Holy Ghost, as we receive do perceive by the mouths Mouth of our bodies Body, these holy Signes in Remembrance of him; and further also, that all his Sufferings and Obedience are as is so certainly ours, as if though we had in own persons our selves had suffered and made satisfaction Punishments for our Sins, to and had satisfied God.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 79

    Why then doth Christ call the bread his body, and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood; and Paul the “Communion of the body and blood of Christ?”

    Christ speaks thus, not without great reason, namely, not only thereby to teach us, that as bread and wine support this temporal life, so his crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink, whereby our souls are fed to eternal life; but more especially by these visible signs and pledges to assure us, that we are as really partakers of this true body and blood (by the operation of the Holy Ghost) as we receive by the mouths of our bodies these holy signs in remembrance of him; and that all his sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours, as if we had in our own persons suffered and made satisfaction for our sins to God.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 87

    Why then doth Christ call Bread his Body, and the Cup his Blood, or the new Testament in his Blood; and St. Paul calleth Bread and Wine the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ?

    Christ not without great Consideration speaketh so, to wit, not only for to teach us that as the Bread and Wine sustain the Life of the Body, so also his crucified Body, and Blood shed, are indeed the Meat and Drink of our Souls, whereby they are nourished to eternal Life; but much more that by this visible Signe and Pledg, he may assure us that we are as verily Partakers of his Body and Blood, through the working of the Holy Ghost, as we do perceive by the Mouth of our Body, these holy Signes in Remembrance of him; and further also, that his Sufferings and Obedience is so certainly ours, as though we our selves had suffered Punishments for our Sins, and had satisfied God.

    Commentaries (2)

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

      Why then doth Christ call breade his bodie, and the cup his bloud, or the new Testament in his bloud; and Paul also calleth bread and wine, the Communion of the bodie and bloude…

      Zacharias Ursinus’s text

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

      Why then doeth Christ call the bread his bodie, & the cup his blood, or the newe Testament in his bloode: and Paul, calleth the bread and wine, the communion of the body & blood…

      Jeremias Bastingius’s text