1 Corinthians 11:25
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1 Corinthians 11:25
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 11 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of fellowship, mercy, wisdom. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-34: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 11:25
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
Analysis
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me—Μετὰ τὸ δειπνῆσαι (after supper)—the cup came after the meal (the third or fourth Passover cup). Τοῦτο τὸ ποτήριον ἡ καινὴ διαθήκη ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ αἵματί μου—this cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Diathēkē (covenant/testament) evokes Jeremiah 31:31-34 (new covenant), Exodus 24:8 (Moses's blood ratification), and Zechariah 9:11 (blood of covenant). The new covenant, promised by the prophets, is ratified by Christ's blood, replacing the Mosaic covenant's animal sacrifices with His once-for-all offering (Hebrews 9:11-28). As oft as ye drink it (ὁσάκις ἐὰν πίνητε)—frequency is unspecified but regularity assumed. Each participation re-proclaims covenant membership in Christ's death and the new exodus from sin.
Historical Context
Passover's third cup was the 'cup of blessing' or 'cup of redemption,' celebrating Israel's deliverance from Egypt. Jesus transforms this into the cup of new covenant—deliverance from sin. The phrase 'new covenant' was revolutionary: it declared the Mosaic covenant fulfilled and inaugurated the messianic age. First-century Jews awaited this (Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 31:31-34). Paul's inclusion of this language shows the Table's eschatological significance: we participate now in the age to come.
Reflection
- How does the new covenant ratified by Christ's blood differ from and fulfill the old covenant ratified by animal blood?
- What does it mean to 'drink the cup' of the new covenant—what are we affirming about our identity in Christ?
- How should the frequency of communion practice reflect its covenantal and memorial significance?
Word Studies
- Blood: αἷμα (Haima) G129 - Blood
Cross-References
- Covenant: Luke 22:20, 2 Corinthians 3:6, 3:14, Hebrews 13:20
- Blood: 1 Corinthians 10:16