What does the Bible say about first holy communion?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents the Lord’s Supper as Christ’s appointed meal for His baptized disciples, a holy sign and seal of His saving death, received by faith rather than as a work that earns grace. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave bread and cup in remembrance of His body and blood and established the new covenant in His blood (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19). John 6 teaches that Christ Himself is the true bread of life, whose flesh and blood believers receive spiritually through faith (John 6:35, 51, 53-58). Paul says the meal proclaims Christ’s death until He comes and unites the church in communion with Him and one another (1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:26).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- John 6:35 14 votes
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.
- John 6:31 11 votes
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”
- John 6:51 9 votes
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.”
- Matthew 26:26-28 5 votes
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.
- Matthew 19:14 5 votes
But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”
- John 15:5 4 votes
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
- John 6:53-58 3 votes
Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will also live because of me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:26 3 votes
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16 3 votes
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?
- Luke 22:19 2 votes
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.”
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