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Part 1: The Holy Eucharist Through the Scriptures

Explore the origins of the Holy Eucharist through Scripture, the early Church, and historic Christian theology in this introductory lesson.

INTRODUCTION

This section will cover a variety of topics useful for the everyday Christian. 

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Section 1: Christology before Sacramentology
Section 2: God Prepared Humanity for the Eucharist
Section 3: Jewish Preparation
Section 4: Jesus prepared the Apostles
Section 5: The Eucharist as Memorial
Section 6: Four Institution Accounts
Section 7: Early Church Father Timeline
Section 8: Covenant Language
Section 9: The Socratic Method
Section 10: The Author's Key Biblical Passages & Key Terms

We must stick to the tangible facts that are presented in Holy Scripture with regard to the Eucharist. "The complexities which historical treatment reveals are sometimes provoking or painful or perplexing to those who have found in simple beliefs a stay for life or a power in teaching."(1909). Stone makes an intriguing point that the student should not close their eyes to the facts and lessons of history. Candid investigation is ally of the faith. When the facts and history of this Holy doctrine is grasped and understood we can then seek outward unity in Christendom. 

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Please remember this information is based on History of the Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist by Stone, Darwell 1909.

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Christology before sacramentology

The doctrine of the Eucharist cannot be understood apart from understanding who Christ is.  Stone begins with an underlying question:

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Before asking ​

"What is the Eucharist?"​

He asks

"Who is Jesus?"

 

This is because the meaning of the sacrament depends entirely upon the person who instituted it.

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Christ is Fully God & Man

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Orthodox Christianity can be summarized in who Christ is believed to be: Christ possesses complete humanity, complete deity, one divine Person, and two natures. This is without confusion, division, separation, or change.

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Why does this matter?

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If Christ were merely human, his words - "This is my body" - would simply be the words of a teacher. However, becase Christ is God incarnate, His words possess divine authority.

God Prepared Humanity for the Eucharist

Stone references Greek mystery religions, particularly Eleusinian Mysteries. These contained sacred meals, ritual participation, and communion imagery. He is NOT saying Christianity copied paganism, rather God allowed humanity to possess shadows and longings that would ultimately be fulfilled in the Eucharistic institution. 

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God's general revelation implanted within humanity a desire for communion with the divine.

 

Throughout history, many cultures expressed this longing through sacred meals and religious rituals. Yet because humanity suppresses the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18–25), these practices became distorted into pagan ceremonies and mystery religions. Rather than proving that Christianity borrowed from paganism, these similarities testify that God created humanity with a universal longing for fellowship with Him—a longing that finds its true fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the Holy Eucharist.

​Jewish Preparation

Bread * Wine * Priest * King *Meal

Jewish preparation occupies a large theological role. Israel already understood in the Passover the sacrificial meals, covenant meal, and seating in God's presence. Examples include Exodus 12 (Passover), Leviticus 7 (Peace Offerings), Proverbs 9 (Wisdom's Banquet), and Genesis 14 (Melchizedek). This becomes a major typological foundation later developed in Hebrews.

Jesus prepared the Apostles

The Eucharist was not unexpected.

Throughout Christ's earthly ministry, He gradually prepares His disciples to understand the significance of the sacrament He would institute before His death. 

 

The miraculous feedings of the five thousand (Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6) and the four thousand demonstrated Christ's divine provision through bread, abundance, and thanksgiving, foreshadowing the spiritual nourishment He would later provide through the Eucharist. This preparation reached its climax in the Bread of Life discourse (John 6), where Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life," "The bread that I will give is my flesh," and "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you."

 

Whether interpreted sacramentally, spiritually, or symbolically, these teachings unmistakably directed the disciples toward the coming institution of the Eucharist by revealing that true life and communion with God would ultimately be found in Christ Himself.

The Eucharist as Memorial

Jesus says​

"Do this in remembrance of me."

 

The Greek term á¼€νάμνησις (anamnesis) carries richer meaning than merely thinking of the Eucharist. In biblical and liturgical contexts, it refers to a memorial before God that makes present the significance of a saving act for the Church. Different Christian traditions understand the implications of this differently, but the term is more substantial than simply "thinking back."

Four Institution Accounts

Comparing the accounts of the institution of the Holy Eucharist found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Paul highlight both their unity and their distinct emphases.

 

Across all four accounts, the central actions of Christ are consistently preserved—He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, commanding them to eat. Likewise, all accounts preserve the language of His blood and the covenant, affirming the sacrificial and covenantal meaning of the rite.

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However, each writer also emphasizes different theological dimensions:

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Matthew uniquely highlights the “forgiveness of sins” and the “Father’s kingdom,”

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Mark emphasizes the “kingdom of God,”

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Luke explicitly includes the command “do this in remembrance of Me” and stresses the “new covenant in My blood,”

 

Paul similarly emphasizes remembrance and the proclamation of the Lord’s death until He comes.

 

Taken together, these parallels and differences demonstrate both the consistency of the apostolic witness and the richness of meaning contained in Christ’s institution of the Eucharist.

Early Church Father Timeline

AD 55:

​Paul the Apostle records the institution in 1 Corinthians 11.

AD 180:

Irenaeus quotes Christ "This is my body." "This is my blood." Uses these passages against heretics.

AD 30-33:

Pentacost & Last Supper

AD 70-90:

​The Gospel institution narratives are written.

AD 150:

Justin Martyr

Describes Christians celebrating Eucharist almost exactly like the New Testament.

Covenant language

Stone links Christ’s institution of the sacrament directly to the covenantal structure found in Exodus 24.

 

Moses mediates the covenant between God and Israel. The sequence unfolds in a deliberate order: the law is proclaimed, the people give their consent, sacrifice is offered, blood is applied, the covenant is ratified, a sacred meal is shared, and finally, communion with God is experienced. Stone argues that this pattern is not accidental but foundational, and that Jesus intentionally echoes and fulfills this same covenantal structure at the Last Supper. In doing so, Christ is presented as the true Mediator of the New Covenant, whose body and blood establish a greater communion between God and His people, fulfilling what was only foreshadowed in the covenant with Israel.

how to explain the doctrine to someone else.

The Holy Eucharist was always something I personally wanted to learn to teach. You don't have to be a theologian to teach this, but you must train yourself to understand the right approach in order to have fruitful conversations about this Holy Doctrine. Here is a layout from the Christian Archive that is meant to grow your articulation ability:

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1: Understand the Doctrine.

2: Articulate the Doctrine in one sentence.

3: Defend the Doctrine

4: Avoid incomplete thinking.

5: Apply the Socratic Method.

Understand the doctrine

Ask Yourself:

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What is the Eucharist?

Where did this belief come from?

Is the reason I believe it sound?​

Can my belief stand on more than my individual understanding?

Articulate the doctrine in one sentence

Ask Yourself:

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Can you explain the Eucharist in one sentence?

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Short summary from this lesson:

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"The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament instituted by Christ in which believers participate in the New Covenant through bread and wine according to His command."

Defend the doctrine

Someone says,

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"Jesus only meant it symbolically."

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How would you respond?

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Either teach

  • Scripture

  • Historical arguments

  • Different Christian traditions

  • Charitable dialogue

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Or Ask Questions

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Why did Jesus choose a meal instead of simply giving another sermon?

What kind of meal was Jesus celebrating?

Why did Jesus choose bread and wine instead of something else?

Why is that important?

Avoid incomplete thinking

Instead of approaching conversations with:

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"The Eucharist is just bread."

"You're wrong"

"It doesn't matter."

"The Eucharist saves you."

 

Approach with:

 

What people often misunderstand.

Qualifications depending on tradition.

Questions.

Short explanations.

Apply the Socratic method

The teacher asks:

Why did Jesus choose a meal instead of simply giving another sermon?

The student thinks.

Because meals represented fellowship?

Teacher:

Good. What kind of meal was Jesus celebrating?

Student:

The Passover.

Teacher:

Why is that important?

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Student begins connecting ideas.

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Eventually the student concludes

The Eucharist fulfills the Passover.

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Instead of receiving information, the student discovers it. Discovery produces much deeper learning. The goal Isn't questions. Many people think the Socratic Method simply means asking questions. It doesn't. Its purpose is to train reasoning. A good Socratic teacher doesn't ask random questions. Every question builds upon the previous one until the student reaches a logical conclusion.

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A Socratic Lesson Has a Road Map

 

Imagine the teacher already knows the destination.

The questions become stepping stones.

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Example:

Goal: Christ is the New Passover Lamb.

Instead of saying it, the teacher guides the student.

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Question 1

When did Jesus institute the Eucharist?

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Passover.

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Question 2

Why is Passover important?

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Israel's deliverance.

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Question 3

What happened to the lamb?

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It was sacrificed.

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Question 4

What happened to its blood?

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Protected Israel.

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Question 5

What happened to its flesh?

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It was eaten.

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Question 6

When Jesus celebrates Passover,

what does He change?

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Bread and wine become central.

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Question 7

What might Jesus be teaching?

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He Himself is the true Passover sacrifice.

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Notice the student arrived there. The teacher didn't begin there.

Key Passages & Terms

Key Biblical Passages

  • Genesis 14:18 (Melchizedek)

  • Exodus 12 (Passover)

  • Exodus 24 (Covenant Meal)

  • Leviticus 7 (Peace Offerings)

  • Proverbs 9 (Wisdom's Banquet)

  • Jeremiah 31:31–34 (New Covenant)

  • Matthew 26:26–29

  • Mark 14:22–25

  • Luke 22:14–20

  • John 6:22–59

  • Acts 2:42–46

  • Acts 20:7

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16–21

  • 1 Corinthians 11:23–29

  • Hebrews 9:15–22

Key Terms

  • Incarnation

  • Hypostatic Union

  • Sacrament

  • Ordinance

  • Covenant

  • Memorial (Anamnesis)

  • Communion

  • Passover

  • Typology

  • Melchizedek

  • Bread of Life

  • Institution Narrative

  • Real Presence (as a theological category encompassing several traditions)

  • Church Fathers

Stone, Darwell. A History of the Doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. Longmans, Green, and Co., 1909.

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