Teens and Christ
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The Lord's Supper

Different beliefs about communion

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus broke bread and said "this is my body". Christians have eaten that meal ever since — and argued for centuries about what those four words mean.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'
Luke 22:19

Transubstantiation

Roman Catholic

The substance of the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Christ, while the appearances of bread and wine remain.

  • —Takes 'this is my body' at its most literal, as the church did increasingly through the early middle ages.
  • —Defined with Aristotelian language at the Fourth Lateran Council (1215) and reaffirmed at Trent.
  • —The Mass is understood as the one sacrifice of Christ made present, not repeated.

Its strengthGuards the seriousness of Christ's real presence and the reverence owed to the sacrament.

The question it facesDoes explaining the mystery in philosophical categories claim more than Scripture states?

Sacramental union (consubstantiation)

Lutheran

Christ's body and blood are truly present in, with and under the bread and wine, which remain bread and wine.

  • —Luther insisted on 'is' in Christ's words while refusing to explain the how.
  • —Rests on the ubiquity of Christ's glorified humanity.

Its strengthKeeps a real, objective presence without a philosophical account of the change.

The question it facesCan presence be affirmed this strongly while leaving the mechanism unexplained?

Real spiritual presence

Reformed, Presbyterian, many Anglicans

Christ is truly present and truly received — but by the Holy Spirit lifting believers to him, not by his body being in the elements.

  • —Calvin argued that Christ's body is in heaven, and the Spirit unites us to him as we eat by faith.
  • —The bread and wine are signs and seals that genuinely convey what they signify to faith.

Its strengthHolds together real communion with Christ and the physical reality of his ascended body.

The question it facesIs 'spiritual' presence as strong as the words of institution sound?

Memorial view

Baptist, Anabaptist, many non-denominational churches

The supper is an act of remembrance and proclamation; the bread and cup are symbols.

  • —Follows Zwingli, and 'do this in remembrance of me'.
  • —Emphasises the congregation's shared confession and self-examination.

Its strengthClear, Scripture-quoting simplicity and a strong sense of community.

The question it facesDoes 'symbol only' account for Paul's warning that unworthy eating brings real judgement?

Holy mystery

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox

The gifts truly become the body and blood of Christ; how this happens is not to be defined.

  • —The change is invoked in the epiclesis, the prayer asking the Spirit to come upon the gifts.
  • —Deliberately refuses scholastic explanation.

Its strengthPreserves awe and refuses to reduce the sacrament to a theory.

The question it facesIs silence about the how a strength or an avoidance?

What every tradition agrees on

  • —Every historic tradition believes Jesus commanded this meal and that it is central to Christian worship.
  • —Every tradition believes it proclaims his death until he comes.
  • —Every tradition calls for self-examination, repentance and reconciliation before eating.
  • —The disagreement is about how Christ is present — not about whether the meal matters.
There is a full lesson on this in the Church, Communion and Baptism track.

Where this came from

We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.

  1. [1]Catechism of the Catholic Church §1373–1381 (transubstantiation)

    The Catholic position in its own words.

  2. [2]Augsburg Confession, Article X; Westminster Confession, Chapter XXIX

    Lutheran and Reformed positions from their confessions.

  3. [3]Didache 9–14 and Justin Martyr, First Apology 65–67 (2nd century)

    The earliest surviving descriptions of Christian communion practice.

  4. [4]1 Corinthians 11:17–34 and the Last Supper accounts — Blue Letter Bible

    The biblical text every view is arguing about.