Communion- One-Cup or Multiple?

[Justin Fyan]

Hello to all,

My name is Justin and ive come across this forum by google and wanted to ask a question! =)

When serving communion is it more appropiate to use one cup or multiple and Why? This is a division in the Church that I have become aware of recently and am looking for output.

Thanks!
Justin

[David Ong]

Hi justin,

With regards to your question, What i can say to that is my expirience in my church and few overseas church which i came from uses individual cups. I personally think that it would be because of hygiene reasons.
but upon further looking up of the scripture, in LUKE 22 (KJV)

17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

in vs17 he said to divide the cup among yourselves. Now i would say that they have a big cup of the fruit of the vine and they splited up into their own cups. And likewise with the bread in vs18.
Notice that they ate the bread first! (in vs19) then drink of the cup (in vs20). So it would be logical to split up the big cup into their own cup before hand so that they can drink it later.

Now you might say why cant it meant that they drank from the same cup?
My answer then would be in vs17 itself. if they are using one cup, it does not make logical sense that he ask the disiples to divide it before hand.
He could eat the bread first then order the cup to be shared.

So thats just what i think and i stand corrected if someone else could show me some other passage which might suggest otherwies,
God Bless,
David

[jlkp]

Thanks David for the explanation from Luke 22:17
Another point to consider here is that when the word "cup" is used it is referring to the contents (ie fruit of the vine). In the bible there is a common figure of speech called "metonymy". The term means “a change in name.” This figure is used when one thing stands for another. One example is here where the container is mentioned, it is actually the contents that is under consideration. Other examples are in John 3:16 -"God so loved the world..." it is not the "world" as the globe rather the people in the world and in Heb 11:7 Noah prepared an ark "to the saving of his "house" - here house is not the literal house but his family that dwell in the house.
This is clear when we examine the following verses
Mark 14:23-24
23 And when He had taken a cup , and given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many
Notice Christ put the emphasis not on "the cup" but rather on the contents which represent His blood shed on the cross for us.

[pfalcon]

Interesting question.

I heard that a congregation in Manchester is using only 1 cup. +.+

However, it doesn't seem as if the Bible is against it. It's just... ugh!

[JamesCFoster]

Interesting question.

I heard that a congregation in Manchester is using only 1 cup. +.+

However, it doesn't seem as if the Bible is against it. It's just... ugh!

Yeah, I can't imagine being the last person to partake of this one cup in a congregation of 800 pairs of lips...

The Master said to take it and divide it amongst yourselves. Of course, I've heard the one-cuppers say they are dividing it amongst themselves when they each drink out of the one cup. But where the focus should always be is not on the number of cups but on the fact that we are to partake of the fruit of the vine in remembrance of Christ as one body, proclaiming His death till He comes.

[david johnson]

it does not matter until either side makes the issue a test of christianity, then they presume to add such to the gospel.
the Lord will not be pleased with such behavior.

dj

[wherethebiblespeaks]

All Churches of Christ can trace their roots back to a "one cup" tradition. That tradition is from the scriptures themselves. The multiple-cup-communion is from the mind of men. Those who deny the necessity of one common cup, pick verses and words from the accounts of the communion and then attempt to explain how one cup isn't necessary. Yet, just read what they actually did, and its so simple. The accounts themselves clearly show Christ taking a cup and giving it to them. Anybody who can read English, sorry to be blunt, knows that he took an actual cup and then gave it to the others. The whole "germs and drinking after others"is beside the point, because, as for germs, and our desire to drink from one cup or not, does not decide the right or wrong way to do communion. So, lets lay that aside and then read the instructions, and let that tell us the right way! Christ took a cup and gave it to them. In mark 14 we read that they all drank from it. So the question on what "divide it among yourselves" means is taken care of, for we know what they actually did, and therefore, we know how they understood it, that is to say, if you believe the cup spoken of in that scripture to be the "cup of blessing." I do not. Because the "cup of blessing" came after the breaking of bread according to I Cor 11. Anyway, Christ took a CUP and gave it to them. Its a matter of just reading what it says. This cannot be reasonably argued, that is, him giving them a cup. Otherwise, if "cup" never means the actual drinking vessel, (which is the actual greek word,) then we must logically say that the drinking vessel didn't exist there, and that he was holding liquid in his hand, because if it does exist, then we must say that "cup" must mean a literal cup somewhere! Why everyone wants to debate the "Cup vs the Contents," I'll never know, because the point is - What did Christ do? He took a cup and gave it to them and commanded them to "drink ye all of it." (Mat 26) We read in Mark that they all drank from it, showing the meaning. Christ performed an action then said "Do this." In other words, "Do what I just did." Thats simple english. Because thats what it says. Also, "divide it among yourselves," should be easily understood to mean take it and pass it around, (since that is what they actually did, showing that they understood that to be his meaning when he said it.) In the NASV, it reads, "take this and share it among yourselves." Which is what it clearly means. Do we want to follow the instructions of Christ or not? Are we afraid of getting ourselves a little cold or something. Men and women throughout the ages have given their lives to keep the will of the Good Lord, but far be it from us to drink after our brothers and sisters.

[alphacaveman]

It's sad that an issue like this has divided the church even further. If using one cup would have been that important there would have been a command against it. We shouldn't divide over things that Jesus did NOT command against.