Communion / Eucharist: History of:
Part 2: Early Church Practices
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How have Communion practices changed over the centuries since being instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper?
Communion became what it is in churches today, due to a very slow process. Its beginning stages are summarized briefly following.
Worship in the early church was divided into two parts: The first part was open to anyone, and included prayers, singing of psalms and songs, readings from scripture, and teaching. The second part was for baptized believers only — anyone not baptized had to leave before the second half, which included the “love feast” we now call Communion. Back then it was an actual meal that included the elements of bread and wine in memory of Jesus.
In the early church, communion and the meal were presided over by the apostles, and later by people trained by the apostles (called “bishops” meaning “shepherds,” not church hierarchy). Also in the early church, the people met secretly in private homes. Buildings dedicated exclusively to Christian worship did not come into play for a century or more later, mostly because Christians, being members of an illegal religion, could not openly own property. Church buildings were illegal until the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in the 300s AD.
Once Christians started meeting in church buildings, Communion moved as well. But by the 300s, many generations had come and gone, most believers were baptized as babies (there was no longer a need for two parts to the worship service) and something like the hierarchy of the catholic church (as in worldwide) began to emerge. The words of the mass as we know it was also mostly in place by then. (Article cont’d.)
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The Sacrament of Communion, or the Eucharist (which means “Thanksgiving”) is the most sacred aspect of Christian faith, the greatest mystery, the greatest sorrow, the greatest blessing, and, when examined closely, the very heart of our Lord Jesus Christ’s life and teaching. Communion is to be approached with humility, confidence, and prayer.
Communion consists of bread and wine. The bread signifies Jesus’ body, both broken and providing nourishment — the bread of life. The wine signifies Jesus’ blood, His loss of life and our gaining life — there’s life in blood, as another Scripture says. Back in Jesus’ day, bread and wine were common foods. So obviously Jesus wants His children to remember Him daily and continuously. “Do this in remembrance” means “Whenever you eat, remember Me.”
At the Last Supper, Jesus was celebrating a specific High Holy Day, called the Passover, and He gave new significance to the broken unleavened bread and the third cup of wine.
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(Article cont’d.) (Note that “worldwide catholic” is not the “Roman Catholic” because at this point in history, “catholic” still meant “worldwide.” At this time, there were five large church organizations: Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Hippo. Invaders overran Hippo as its last bishop, the great theologian Augustine, lay dying, and its church is no more. The other four still survive to this day: the Jerusalem Church, the Coptic Catholic Church (Alexandria), the Eastern Orthodox Church (Constantinople) and the Roman Catholic Church. All four have essentially the same communion service, with only slight variations, which they do not consider slight.
It should also be noted that Protestant churches kept most of the wording of the mass in their communion services. Many churches use the words, “On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus Christ took bread and gave thanks…” It’s the meaning of the sacrament, not the wording, as in transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and representation, which changes as one moves into the Protestant Reformation.
Many changes have taken place with this church ordinance since the first century church until now. But He who it all represents is the I AM, unchanging yesterday, today, and forever. As you can see, the spiritual benefit for Jesus’ “Family” celebrating Communion IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!
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