Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Westminster Assembly

Question 170

How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord’s supper feed upon the body and blood of Christ therein?

As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord’s supper,a and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses;b so they that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really,c while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death.d

How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord’s supper feed upon the body and blood of Christ therein?

As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord’s supper,a and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses;b so they that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really,c while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death.d

  1. a. Acts 3:21

    Acts 3:21

    3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

    3:21 Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  2. b. Matthew 26:26, 28

    Matthew 26:26; Matthew 26:28

    26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

    26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." 26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  3. c. 1 Corinthians 11:24–29

    1 Corinthians 11:24–29

    11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

    11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 11:25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. 11:27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 11:28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

  4. d. 1 Corinthians 10:16

    1 Corinthians 10:16

    10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

    10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

    King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

Related (1)

Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), parallel to this question

Question 96

What is the Lord’s Supper?

The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Commentaries (8)