Early Christian Community's Communal Worship and Shared Meals
The early Christian community's communal worship was deeply intertwined with shared meals, a practice that reflected their fellowship with God and one another [1]. This communal aspect is evident in various New Testament accounts, particularly concerning the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper, also known as communion, the Lord's table, or the breaking of bread, was instituted by Jesus during the Passover meal with his disciples [2, 6]. This event, likely occurring on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30, involved Jesus taking unleavened bread and breaking it, and sharing the "cup of blessing" [2]. The practice was designed to commemorate Christ's sacrifice and foster fellowship among believers [6]. The Apostle Paul refers to this central act of Christian worship in 1 Corinthians 11:20, emphasizing its significance [2].
In the early Church, the Lord's Supper was often celebrated as part of larger fellowship meals [7]. This practice is suggested by passages like 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, which speaks of the communion in the blood and body of Christ, and the unity it signifies among believers [1]. The early Christians were known for their remarkable sharing, being united in heart and mind, and willingly offering their possessions to meet the needs of others in the community [9]. This sharing was voluntary, prompted by Christian love and concern [9].
The concept of "communion" itself signifies fellowship with God (as seen in Genesis 18:17-33 and Exodus 33:9-11), between Christ and his followers (John 14:23), and through the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1) [1]. This fellowship extended to believers with one another, as highlighted in Ephesians 4:1-6 [1]. The Lord's Supper served as a tangible expression of this multifaceted communion [1].
The early believers gathered for religious worship on the first day of the week, or the Lord's Day, to "break bread" [11]. This "breaking of bread" was not merely a common meal but a significant religious exercise [11]. Paul's rebuke in 1 Corinthians 11:20-21 indicates that the Corinthians' practice of eating "his own supper" greedily, with some going hungry while others became drunk, undermined the true purpose of the Lord's Supper and the communal spirit it represented [10]. This suggests that the love-feast, which typically preceded the Lord's Supper, was intended to be a shared experience where all were included [10].
The communal meals and worship of the early church were a reflection of their unity and shared spiritual life. All ate the "same spiritual food" [3, 5], signifying their common spiritual sustenance. This communal aspect extended beyond meals to include public and social worship, prayer for one another, exhortation, mutual comfort, edification, sympathy, and kindness [4]. The presence of Christ was believed to be in this communion [4]. This emphasis on unity and shared life aligns with the prophetic vision of a "one heart" and a "new spirit" given by God, where believers unanimously seek Him [8]. The early Christian community thus embodied a profound sense of interconnectedness, both spiritually and practically, through their shared worship and meals.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Communion — Fellowship with God (Gen. 18:17-33; Ex. 33:9-11; Num. 12:7, 8), between Christ and his people (John 14:23), by the Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1), of believers with one another (Eph. 4:1-6). The Lord's Supper is so called (1 Cor. 10:16, 17), because in it there is fellowship between Christ and his disciples, and of the disciples with one another.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Supper — The words which thus describe the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church occur but in a single passage of the New Testament-- (1 Corinthians 11:20) + Its institution .--It was instituted on that night when Jesus and his disciples met together to eat the passover, (Matthew 26:19; Mark 14:16; Luke 22:13) (on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30). It was probably instituted at the third cup (the cup of blessing) of the passover [see on [821]Passover], Jesus taking one of the unleavened cakes used at the feast and breaking it and giving it t”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 10:3 (LITV) — and all ate the same spiritual food.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion of Saints — According to the prayer of Christ -- Joh 17:20,21. Is with God. -- 1Jo 1:3. Saints in heaven. -- Heb 12:22-24. Each other. -- Ga 2:9; 1Jo 1:3,7. God marks, with his approval -- Mal 3:16. Christ is present in -- Mt 18:20. In public and social worship -- Ps 34:3; 55:14; Ac 1:14; Heb 10:25. In the Lord's supper -- 1Co 10:17. In holy conversation -- Mal 3:16. In prayer for each other -- 2Co 1:11; Eph 6:18. In exhortation -- Col 3:16; Heb 10:25. In mutual comfort and edification -- 1Th 4:18; 5:11. In mutual sympathy and kindness -- Ro 12:15; Eph 4:32”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 10:3 (NASB) — and all ate the same spiritual food;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Supper — (1 Cor. 11:20), called also "the Lord's table" (10:21), "communion," "cup of blessing" (10:16), and "breaking of bread" (Acts 2:42). In the early Church it was called also "eucharist," or giving of thanks (comp. Matt. 26:27), and generally by the Latin Church "mass," a name derived from the formula of dismission, Ite, missa est, i.e., "Go, it is discharged." The account of the institution of this ordinance is given in Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19, 20, and 1 Cor. 11:24-26. It is not mentioned by John. It was designed, (1.) To commemorate t”
- Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 1:12: 1:12 The early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper as part of shared fellowship meals with one another.”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 11:19: I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jer 32:39; Zep 3:9) [HENGSTENBERG]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; Kg1 18:21; Hos 10:2) [CALVIN]. new spirit-- (Psa 51:10; Jer 31:33). Realized fully in th”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 4:32: 4:32-35 The sharing of early believers was remarkable (see also 2:44-45; cp. 6:1). Being united in heart and mind, they willingly offered anything they possessed to meet the needs of other believers. This sharing was voluntary and without coercion, and it related to pressing needs in the community and was prompted by Christian love and concern for one another.”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:20: When . . . therefore--Resuming the thread of discourse from Co1 11:18. this is not to--rather, "there is no such thing as eating the LORD'S Supper"; it is not possible where each is greedily intent only on devouring "HIS OWN supper," and some are excluded altogether, not having been waited for (Co1 11:33), where some are "drunken," while others are "hungry" (Co1 11:21). The love-feast usually preceded the Lord's Supper (as eating the Passover came before the Lord's Supper at the first institution of the latter). It was a club-feast, where eac”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 20:7: And upon the first day of the week,.... Or Lord's day, Rev 1:10 and which Justin Martyr calls Sunday; on which day, he says (i), all, both in city and country, met in one place for religious worship; and on this day, it appears from hence, and from other places, that the apostles and primitive churches did meet together for religious exercises; see Joh 20:19 and so they did at Troas at this time, as follows: when the disciples came together to break bread; not to eat a common meal, or to make a feast, or grand entertainment for the apostle and his company, before they”