Pre-Christian Communion

Many think of Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper and the Eucharist, as a practice that was newly introduced to the world by Jesus and early Christianity. While there were definitely new aspects of it, Jesus was referencing both Jewish and Pagan practices that people understood at the time and turning it into something far greater, much like baptism. Rather than giving you a history lesson and then comparing that to Scripture, I realize that the most efficient way to do this is simply examine what Paul already lays out for us in 1 Corinthians 10.

1 Corinthians 10:16–21
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

In this passage Paul contrasts participation with the blood of Christ with participation with demons. The method? Communion, eating and drinking that which was sacrificed/offered. When one ate and drank that which was sacrificed or offered to an idol or deity, it was seen as participating in that ritual. As Christians, by eating the bread and wine which Christ equated with His flesh and blood, we are participating in the sacrifice of Jesus that paid the debt of our sins on the cross. The astute might now be wondering how this could make sense if Paul already said in chapter 8 that eating meat sacrificed to idols isn’t an issue and once more says in this passage that food offered to idols isn’t “anything.” This is true. Paul’s issue isn’t with the food itself, it’s with worshiping what it was offered to. Just as eating bread and drinking wine without the intention does not count as performing the Lord’s Supper, eating and drinking that which was sacrificed but was later sold in the market is not an issue (see 1 Corinthians 8) but doing so with intention to worship and partake with demonic forces absolutely is. This was something the Corinthians were tempted to do, and in fact were doing. Some wanted blessing from both sides. This may seem foolish to us but remember that in ancient times it was normal to sacrifice to more than one god, and these early believers in Corinth are still learning how things work, now that they are following Jesus. Paul had to expressly say that they cannot play both sides, even if they are tempted to do so. In fact, this passage is what directly follows after Paul’s encouragement that as Christians we can overcome any temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13–14
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

In verse 21, when Paul warns not to participate with demons in the way one should with Christ, his warning uses terms like the “cup” and “table” of the Lord versus the “cup” and “table” of demons. This way of speaking would have been easily recognizable to his intended audience as phraseology that refers to partaking in sacrifices (communion). In the book of Isaiah, we see this type of language being common hundreds of years before Paul.

Isaiah 65:11
But you who forsake the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain,
who set a table for Fortune
and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,

Instead of partaking in the table, or alter, of the Lord, Israel was communing with other gods by offering and partaking in food and drink out of worship. Later, Israel was guilty of participating in the table of the Lord incorrectly and God reprimanded them for it.

Malachi 1:7–8
 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

Thus, one can see in Scripture alone that although Communion as we think of it today did not exist until Jesus’ initiation, it was built on well-known and understood concepts of participation in sacrifice and worship. The principal difference in Christian Communion is that Christ’s sacrifice which we participate in through Communion was holy, singular, and permanent.