What Is Holy Communion? Bible Meaning and Verses.

Find Bible quotes about Holy Communion and its meaning for Christians. Learn the different practices of communion between the modern denominations of Christianity.

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"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26

Holy Communion (Eucharist) Definition

The Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, is the distinctive rite of Christian worship, instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ upon the eve of His atoning death, being a religious partaking of bread and wine, which, having been presented before God the Father in thankful memorial of Christ's inexhaustible sacrifice, have become (through the sacramental blessing) the communion of the body and blood of Christ.

Names of Holy Communion

1. Eucharist:

The name" Eucharist" is derived from the eucharistesas (" gave thanks") of the institution and was the most widely used term in primitive times, as applied to the whole service, to the consecration of the bread and wine or to the consecrated elements themselves (compare 1 Corinthians 14:16).

2. Lord's Supper:

The Lord's Supper is fundamentally (but not solely) intended to evoke our hearts' remembrance of the divinity and blessing of Jesus: “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25).

3. Breaking of Bread:

The Bible uses the phrase “breaking of bread” in various forms. Acts 2:42-46 depicts the early church breaking bread as part of their fellowship: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." The early Christians came together frequently for shared meals, which involved the breaking of bread.

4. Communion:

"Communion" is derived from 1 Corinthians 10:16, "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?"

Communion in the Bible

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’” ~ Luke 22:19-20

"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." ~ Matthew 26:26-28

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." ~ Acts 2:42

"So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." ~ John 6:53-58