Bible verses for Communion
Communion is the moment when the church does what Jesus asked on the night he was betrayed: take the bread and the cup in memory of him. The oldest account is in 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul passes on what he received and asks each person to examine themselves; the Gospels narrate the last supper; John, in chapter 6, keeps Jesus' words about being the bread of life. Different churches call this moment the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist or Communion and understand differently what happens there — this page gathers only the texts they all read. The verses below are for the liturgy, the bulletin, the meditation before taking part and the explanation for someone coming to Communion for the first time.
For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.
I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Frequently asked questions
Which text is read at Communion?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is the most used ("do this in memory of me"). Luke 22:19-20 and Matthew 26:26-28 narrate the institution of the Supper.
What does "let a man examine himself" mean?
1 Corinthians 11:28 asks for reflection before taking part: recognizing what Communion represents and setting right what needs to be set right with God and others.
What is the difference between the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist and Communion?
They are names used by different traditions for the same rite instituted by Jesus. The understanding of what happens varies among churches; the Bible texts are the same.
See also
Scripture text: World English Bible (WEB), public domain. Prayers, introductions and reflections: original text by this site, not affiliated with any denomination. Devotional content; it does not replace medical, psychological or legal advice.