Last Supper

Last updated

Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, Leonardo da Vinci's late-1490s mural painting in Milan, Italy, being the best-known example. (Clickable image--use cursor to identify.) The Last Supper - Leonardo Da Vinci - High Resolution 32x16.jpgBartholomewJames MinorAndrewPeterJudasPeterJohnThomasJames GreaterPhilipMatthewJudeSimon
Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art have been undertaken by artistic masters for centuries, Leonardo da Vinci's late-1490s mural painting in Milan, Italy, being the best-known example. (Clickable image—use cursor to identify.)

The Last Supper is the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. [2] The Last Supper is commemorated by Christians especially on Holy Thursday. [3] The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "Holy Communion" or "The Lord's Supper". [4]

Contents

The First Epistle to the Corinthians contains the earliest known mention of the Last Supper. The four canonical gospels state that the Last Supper took place in the week of Passover, days after Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and before Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. [5] [6] During the meal, Jesus predicts his betrayal by one of the apostles present, and foretells that before the next morning, Peter will thrice deny knowing him. [5] [6]

The three Synoptic Gospels and the First Epistle to the Corinthians include the account of the institution of the Eucharist in which Jesus takes bread, breaks it and gives it to those present, saying "This is my body given to you". [5] [6] The Gospel of John tells of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles, [7] giving the new commandment "to love one another as I have loved you", [8] and includes the detailed Farewell Discourse by Jesus, calling the apostles who follow his teachings "friends and not servants", as he prepares them for his departure. [9] [10] [11]

Some scholars have looked to the Last Supper as the source of early Christian Eucharistic traditions. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] Others see the account of the Last Supper as derived from 1st-century eucharistic practice as described by Paul in the mid-50s. [13] [18] [19] [20]

Terminology

Last Supper, Monreale Cathedral mosaics (Palermo, Sicily, Italy) Last Supper.jpg
Last Supper, Monreale Cathedral mosaics (Palermo, Sicily, Italy)

The term "Last Supper" does not appear in the New Testament, [21] [22] but traditionally many Christians refer to such an event. [22] The term "Lord's Supper" refers both to the biblical event and the act of "Holy Communion" and Eucharistic ("thanksgiving") celebration within their liturgy. Evangelical Protestants also use the term "Lord's Supper", but most do not use the terms "Eucharist" or the word "Holy" with the name "Communion". [23]

The Eastern Orthodox use the term "Mystical Supper" which refers both to the biblical event and the act of Eucharistic celebration within liturgy. [24] The Russian Orthodox also use the term "Secret Supper" (Church Slavonic : "Тайная вечеря", Taynaya vecherya).

Scriptural basis

The last meal that Jesus shared with his apostles is described in all four canonical Gospels [25] as having taken place in the week of the Passover. This meal later became known as the Last Supper. [6] The Last Supper was likely a retelling of the events of the last meal of Jesus among the early Christian community, and became a ritual which recounted that meal. [26]

Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, [27] which was likely written before the Gospels, includes a reference to the Last Supper but emphasizes the theological basis rather than giving a detailed description of the event or its background. [5] [6]

Background and setting

The overall narrative that is shared in all Gospel accounts that leads to the Last Supper is that after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem early in the week, and encounters with various people and the Jewish elders, Jesus and his disciples share a meal towards the end of the week. After the meal, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried, and then crucified. [5] [6]

Key events in the meal are the preparation of the disciples for the departure of Jesus, the predictions about the impending betrayal of Jesus, and the foretelling of the upcoming denial of Jesus by Apostle Peter. [5] [6]

Prediction of Judas' betrayal

In Matthew 26:24–25, Mark 14:18–21, Luke 22:21–23 and John 13:21–30, during the meal, Jesus predicted that one of the apostles present would betray him. [28] [29] Jesus is described as reiterating, despite each apostle's assertion that he would not betray Jesus, that the betrayer would be one of those who were present, and saying that there would be "woe to the man who betrays the Son of man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." [30]

In Matthew 26:23–25 and John 13:26–27, Judas is specifically identified as the traitor. [31] In the Gospel of John, when asked about the traitor, Jesus states:

"It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

Evans 2003, pp. 465–477 Fahlbusch 2005, pp. 52–56

Institution of the Eucharist

The three Synoptic Gospel accounts describe the Last Supper as a Passover meal, [32] [33] disagreeing with John. [33] Each gives somewhat different versions of the order of the meal. In chapter 26 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus prays thanks for the bread, divides it, and hands the pieces of bread to his disciples, saying "Take, eat, this is my body." Later in the meal Jesus takes a cup of wine, offers another prayer, and gives it to those present, saying "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

In chapter 22 of the Gospel of Luke, however, the wine is blessed and distributed before the bread, followed by the bread, then by a second, larger cup of wine, as well as somewhat different wordings. Additionally, according to Paul and Luke, he tells the disciples "do this in remembrance of me." This event has been regarded by Christians of most denominations as the institution of the Eucharist. There is recorded celebration of the Eucharist by the early Christian community in Jerusalem. [10]

The institution of the Eucharist is recorded in the three Synoptic Gospels and in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians. As noted above, Jesus's words differ slightly in each account. In addition, Luke 22:19b–20 is a disputed text which does not appear in some of the early manuscripts of Luke. [34] Some scholars, therefore, believe that it is an interpolation, while others have argued that it is original. [35] [36]

A comparison of the accounts given in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians is shown in the table below, with text from the ASV. The disputed text from Luke 22:19b–20 is in italics.

Mark 14:22–24And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.' [37]
Matthew 26:26–28And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, 'Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.' [38]
1 Corinthians 11:23–25For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, 'This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.' In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.' [39]
Luke 22:19–20And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, 'This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.'And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.' [40]

Jesus' actions in sharing the bread and wine have been linked with Isaiah 53:12 [41] which refers to a blood sacrifice that, as recounted in Exodus 24:8, [42] Moses offered in order to seal a covenant with God. Some scholars interpret the description of Jesus' action as asking his disciples to consider themselves part of a sacrifice, where Jesus is the one due to physically undergo it. [43]

Although the Gospel of John does not include a description of the bread and wine ritual during the Last Supper, most scholars agree that John 6:58–59 [44] (the Bread of Life Discourse) has a Eucharistic nature and resonates with the "words of institution" used in the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline writings on the Last Supper. [45]

Prediction of Peter's denial

In Matthew 26:33–35, Mark 14:29–31, Luke 22:33–34 and John 13:36–8, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny knowledge of him, stating that Peter will disown him three times before the rooster crows the next morning. [46] The three Synoptic Gospels mention that after the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied knowing him three times, but after the third denial, heard the rooster crow and recalled the prediction as Jesus turned to look at him. Peter then began to cry bitterly. [47] [48]

Elements unique to the Gospel of John

Jesus giving the Farewell Discourse to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308-1311 Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles.jpg
Jesus giving the Farewell Discourse to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311

John 13 includes the account of the washing the feet of the Apostles by Jesus before the meal. [49] In this episode, Apostle Peter objects and does not want to allow Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus answers him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me", [50] after which Peter agrees.

In the Gospel of John, after the departure of Judas from the Last Supper, Jesus tells his remaining disciples [51] that he will be with them for only a short time, then gives them a New Commandment, stating: [52] [53] "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." [54] Two similar statements also appear later in John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you", [55] and John 15:17: "This is my command: Love each other." [56] [53]

At the Last Supper in the Gospel of John, Jesus gives an extended sermon to his disciples. [57] This discourse resembles farewell speeches called testaments, in which a father or religious leader, often on the deathbed, leaves instructions for his children or followers. [58]

This sermon is referred to as the Farewell Discourse of Jesus, and has historically been considered a source of Christian doctrine, particularly on the subject of Christology. John 17:1–26 is generally known as the Farewell Prayer or the High Priestly Prayer, given that it is an intercession for the coming Church. [59] The prayer begins with Jesus's petition for his glorification by the Father, given that completion of his work and continues to an intercession for the success of the works of his disciples and the community of his followers. [59]

Time and place

Date

13th century Orthodox Russian icon from 1497 Icon last supper.jpg
13th century Orthodox Russian icon from 1497

Historians estimate that the date of the crucifixion fell in the range AD 30–36. [60] [61] [62] Isaac Newton and Colin Humphreys have ruled out the years 31, 32, 35, and 36 on astronomical grounds, leaving 7 April AD 30 and 3 April AD 33 as possible crucifixion dates. [63] Humphreys 2011 , pp. 72, 189 proposes narrowing down the date of the Last Supper as having occurred in the evening of Wednesday, 1 April AD 33, by revising Annie Jaubert's double-Passover theory.

Historically, various attempts to reconcile the three synoptic accounts with John have been made, some of which are indicated in the Last Supper by Francis Mershman in the 1912 Catholic Encyclopedia . [64] The Maundy Thursday church tradition assumes that the Last Supper was held on the evening before the crucifixion day (although, strictly speaking, in no Gospel is it unequivocally said that this meal took place on the night before Jesus died). [65]

A new approach to resolve this contrast was undertaken in the wake of the excavations at Qumran in the 1950s when Annie Jaubert argued that there were two Passover feast dates: while the official Jewish lunar calendar had Passover begin on a Friday evening in the year that Jesus died, a solar calendar was also used, for instance by the Essene community at Qumran, which always had the Passover feast begin on a Tuesday evening. According to Jaubert, Jesus would have celebrated the Passover on Tuesday, and the Jewish authorities three days later, on Friday. [66] Humphreys has disagreed with Jaubert's proposal on the grounds that the Qumran solar Passover would always fall after the official Jewish lunar Passover. He agrees with the approach of two Passover dates, and argues that the Last Supper took place on the evening of Wednesday 1 April 33, based on his recent discovery of the Essene, Samaritan, and Zealot lunar calendar, which is based on Egyptian reckoning. [67] [68]

In a review of Humphreys' book, the Bible scholar William R Telford points out that the non-astronomical parts of his argument are based on the assumption that the chronologies described in the New Testament are historical and based on eyewitness testimony. In doing so, Telford says, Humphreys has built an argument upon unsound premises which "does violence to the nature of the biblical texts, whose mixture of fact and fiction, tradition and redaction, history and myth all make the rigid application of the scientific tool of astronomy to their putative data a misconstrued enterprise." [69]

Location

The Cenacle on Mount Zion, claimed to be the location of the Last Supper and Pentecost. Cenacle on Mount Zion.jpg
The Cenacle on Mount Zion, claimed to be the location of the Last Supper and Pentecost.

According to later tradition, the Last Supper took place in what is today called The Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion, just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, and is traditionally known as The Upper Room. This is based on the account in the Synoptic Gospels that states that Jesus had instructed two disciples (Luke 22:8 specifies that Jesus sent Peter and John) to go to "the city" to meet "a man carrying a jar of water", who would lead them to a house, where they would find "a large upper room furnished and ready". [70] In this upper room they "prepare the Passover".

No more specific indication of the location is given in the New Testament, and the "city" referred to may be a suburb of Jerusalem, such as Bethany, rather than Jerusalem itself.

A structure on Mount Zion in Jerusalem is currently called the Cenacle and is purported to be the location of the Last Supper. Bargil Pixner claims the original site is located beneath the current structure of the Cenacle on Mount Zion. [71]

The traditional location is in an area that, according to archaeology, had a large Essene community, a point made by scholars who suspect a link between Jesus and the group. [72]

Saint Mark's Syrian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem is another possible site for the room in which the Last Supper was held, and contains a Christian stone inscription testifying to early reverence for that spot. Certainly the room they have is older than that of the current cenaculum (crusader – 12th century) and as the room is now underground the relative altitude is correct (the streets of 1st century Jerusalem were at least twelve feet (3.7 metres) lower than those of today, so any true building of that time would have even its upper story currently under the earth). They also have a revered Icon of the Virgin Mary, reputedly painted from life by St Luke.

Theology of the Last Supper

The Washing of Feet and the Supper, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308-1311. Duccio di Buoninsegna 029.jpg
The Washing of Feet and the Supper, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311.

The Washing of Feet and the Supper, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311. Peter often displays amazement in feet washing depictions, as in John 13:8. [73] St. Thomas Aquinas viewed The Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit as teachers and masters who provide lessons, at times by example. For Aquinas, the Last Supper and the Cross form the summit of the teaching that wisdom flows from intrinsic grace, rather than external power. [74] For Aquinas, at the Last Supper Christ taught by example, showing the value of humility (as reflected in John's foot washing narrative) and self-sacrifice, rather than by exhibiting external, miraculous powers. [74] [75]

Aquinas stated that based on John 15:15 (in the Farewell Discourse), in which Jesus said: "No longer do I call you servants; ...but I have called you friends," [76] those who are followers of Christ and partake in the sacrament of the Eucharist become his friends, as those gathered at the table of the Last Supper. [74] [75] [77] For Aquinas, at the Last Supper Christ made the promise to be present in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and to be with those who partake in it, as he was with his disciples at the Last Supper. [78]

John Calvin believed only in the two sacraments of Baptism and the "Lord's Supper" (i.e., Eucharist). Thus, his analysis of the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper was an important part of his entire theology. [79] [80] Calvin related the Synoptic Gospel accounts of the Last Supper with the Bread of Life Discourse in John 6:35 that states: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry." [81] [80]

Calvin also believed that the acts of Jesus at the Last Supper should be followed as an example, stating that just as Jesus gave thanks to the Father before breaking the bread, [82] those who go to the Lord's table to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist must give thanks for the "boundless love of God" and celebrate the sacrament with both joy and thanksgiving. [80]

Remembrances

Simon Ushakov's icon of the Mystical Supper, 1685 Simon ushakov last supper 1685.jpg
Simon Ushakov's icon of the Mystical Supper, 1685

The institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is remembered by Roman Catholics as one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, the First Station of a so-called New Way of the Cross and by Christians as the "inauguration of the New Covenant", mentioned by the prophet Jeremiah, fulfilled at the last supper when Jesus "took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.' And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.'" [83] Other Christian groups consider the Bread and Wine remembrance to be a change to the Passover ceremony, as Jesus Christ has become "our Passover, sacrificed for us", [84] and hold that partaking of the Passover Communion (or fellowship) is now the sign of the New Covenant, when properly understood by the practicing believer.

These meals evolved into more formal worship services and became codified as the Mass in the Catholic Church, and as the Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Orthodox Church; at these liturgies, Catholics and Eastern Orthodox celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The name "Eucharist" is from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistia) which means "thanksgiving".

Early Christianity observed a ritual meal known as the "agape feast" [lower-alpha 1] These "love feasts" were apparently a full meal, with each participant bringing food, and with the meal eaten in a common room. They were held on Sundays, which became known as the Lord's Day, to recall the resurrection, the appearance of Christ to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the appearance to Thomas and the Pentecost which all took place on Sundays after the Passion.

Passover parallels

Last Supper, Carl Bloch. In some depictions John the Apostle is placed on the right side of Jesus, some to the left. The-Last-Supper-large.jpg
Last Supper, Carl Bloch. In some depictions John the Apostle is placed on the right side of Jesus, some to the left.

Since the late 20th century, with growing consciousness of the Jewish character of the early church and the improvement of Jewish-Christian relations, it became common among some evangelical groups to borrow Seder customs, like Haggadahs, and incorporated them in new rituals meant to mimic the Last Supper.[ citation needed ] As the earliest elements in the current Passover Seder (a fortiori the full-fledged ritual, which is first recorded in full only in the ninth century) are a rabbinic enactment instituted in remembrance of the Temple, which was still standing during the Last Supper, [85] the Seder in Jesus' time would have been celebrated quite differently, however.

In Islam

The fifth chapter in the Quran, Al-Ma'ida (the table) contains a reference to a meal (Sura 5:114) with a table sent down from God to ʿĪsá (i.e., Jesus) and the apostles (Hawariyyin). However, there is nothing in Sura 5:114 to indicate that Jesus was celebrating that meal regarding his impending death, especially as the Quran states that Jesus was never crucified to begin with. Thus, although Sura 5:114 refers to "a meal", there is no indication that it is the Last Supper. [86] However, some scholars believe that Jesus' manner of speech during which the table was sent down suggests that it was an affirmation of the apostles' resolves and to strengthen their faiths as the impending trial was about to befall them. [87]

Historicity

According to John P. Meier and E. P. Sanders, Jesus having a final meal with his disciples is almost beyond dispute among scholars, and belongs to the framework of the narrative of Jesus' life. [88] [89] I. Howard Marshall states that any doubt about the historicity of the Last Supper should be abandoned. [14]

Some Jesus Seminar scholars consider the Last Supper to have derived not from Jesus' last supper with the disciples but rather from the gentile tradition of memorial dinners for the dead. [90] In their view, the Last Supper is a tradition associated mainly with the gentile churches that Paul established, rather than with the earlier, Jewish congregations. [90] Such views echo that of 20th century Protestant theologian Rudolf Bultmann, who also believed the Eucharist to have originated in Gentile Christianity. [19] [20]

On the other hand, an increasing number of scholars have reasserted the historicity of the institution of the Eucharist, reinterpreting it from a Jewish eschatological point of view: according to Lutheran theologian Joachim Jeremias, for example, the Last Supper should be seen as a climax of a series of Messianic meals held by Jesus in anticipation of a new Exodus. [91] Similar views are echoed in more recent works by Catholic biblical scholars such as John P. Meier and Brant Pitre, and by Anglican scholar N.T. Wright. [92] [17] [93]

Artistic depictions

The Last Supper has been a popular subject in Christian art. [1] Such depictions date back to early Christianity and can be seen in the Catacombs of Rome. Byzantine artists frequently focused on the Apostles receiving Communion, rather than the reclining figures having a meal. By the Renaissance, the Last Supper was a favorite topic in Italian art. [94]

There are three major themes in the depictions of the Last Supper: the first is the dramatic and dynamic depiction of Jesus's announcement of his betrayal. The second is the moment of the institution of the tradition of the Eucharist. The depictions here are generally solemn and mystical. The third major theme is the farewell of Jesus to his disciples, in which Judas Iscariot is no longer present, having left the supper. The depictions here are generally melancholy, as Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure. [1] There are also other, less frequently depicted scenes, such as the washing of the feet of the disciples. [95]

The best known depiction of the Last Supper is Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, which is considered the first work of High Renaissance art, due to its high level of harmony. [96]

Among other representations, Tintoretto's depiction is unusual in that it includes secondary characters carrying or taking the dishes from the table, [97] and Salvador Dali's depiction combines the typical Christian themes with modern approaches of Surrealism. [98]

Music

The Lutheran Passion hymn " Da der Herr Christ zu Tische saß " (When the Lord Christ sat at the table) derives from a depiction of the Last Supper.[ importance of example(s)? ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucharist</span> Christian rite and sacrament

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an ordinance in others. Christians believe that the rite was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper, the night before his crucifixion, giving his disciples bread and wine. Passages in the New Testament state that he commanded them to "do this in memory of me" while referring to the bread as "my body" and the cup of wine as "the blood of my covenant, which is poured out for many". According to the synoptic Gospels this was at a Passover meal.

Gospel originally meant the Christian message, but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was reported. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words and deeds of Jesus, culminating in his trial and death and concluding with various reports of his post-resurrection appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John the Apostle</span> Apostle of Jesus, saint (c. 6 – c. 100)

John the Apostle, also known as Saint John the Beloved and, in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Saint John the Theologian, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he was the son of Zebedee and Salome. His brother James was another of the Twelve Apostles. The Church Fathers identify him as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos, John the Elder, and the Beloved Disciple, and testify that he outlived the remaining apostles and was the only one to die of natural causes, although modern scholars are divided on the veracity of these claims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transfiguration of Jesus</span> Episode in the life of Jesus

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event described in the New Testament, where Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels recount the occasion, and the Second Epistle of Peter also refers to it

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chronology of Jesus</span>

A chronology of Jesus aims to establish a timeline for the events of the life of Jesus. Scholars have correlated Jewish and Greco-Roman documents and astronomical calendars with the New Testament accounts to estimate dates for the major events in Jesus's life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Authorship of the Johannine works</span>

The authorship of the Johannine works has been debated by biblical scholars since at least the 2nd century AD. The debate focuses mainly on the identity of the author(s), as well as the date and location of authorship of these writings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus</span> Central figure of Christianity

Jesus, also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity, the world's largest religion. Most Christians believe Jesus to be the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited messiah, or Christ, a descendant from the Davidic line that is prophesied in the Old Testament. Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed historically. Accounts of Jesus's life are contained in the Gospels, especially the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament. Academic research has yielded various views on the historical reliability of the Gospels and how closely they reflect the historical Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Life of Jesus</span> Life of Jesus as told in the New Testament

The life of Jesus is primarily outlined in the four canonical gospels, which includes his genealogy and nativity, public ministry, passion, prophecy, resurrection and ascension. Other parts of the New Testament – such as the Pauline epistles which were likely written within 20 to 30 years of each other, and which include references to key episodes in the life of Jesus, such as the Last Supper, and the Acts of the Apostles, which includes more references to the Ascension episode than the canonical gospels also expound upon the life of Jesus. In addition to these biblical texts, there are extra-biblical texts that make reference to certain events in the life of Jesus, such as Josephus on Jesus and Tacitus on Christ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark 14</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Mark 14 is the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It contains the plot to kill Jesus, his anointing by a woman, the Last Supper, predictions of his betrayal, and Peter the Apostle's three denials of him. It then begins the Passion of Jesus, with the garden of Gethsemane and Judas Iscariot's betrayal and Jesus' arrest, followed by Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin and Peter's denials of Jesus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disciple whom Jesus loved</span> Phrase found in the Gospel of John

The phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved" or, in John 20:2; "the other disciple whom Jesus loved", is used six times in the Gospel of John, but in no other New Testament accounts of Jesus. John 21:24 states that the Gospel of John is based on the written testimony of this disciple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucharistic theology</span> Branch of Christian theology

Eucharistic theology is a branch of Christian theology which treats doctrines concerning the Holy Eucharist, also commonly known as the Lord's Supper and Holy Communion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Jesus</span>

The ministry of Jesus, in the canonical gospels, begins with his baptism near the River Jordan by John the Baptist, and ends in Jerusalem in Judea, following the Last Supper with his disciples. The Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry. A chronology of Jesus typically sets the date of the start of his ministry at around AD 27–29 and the end in the range AD 30–36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke 22</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Luke 22 is the twenty-second chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It commences in the days just before the Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread, and records the plot to kill Jesus Christ; the institution of the Lord's Supper; and the Arrest of Jesus and his trial before the Sanhedrin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eucharist in the Catholic Church</span> Catholic sacrament

Eucharist is the name that Catholic Christians give to the sacrament by which, according to their belief, the body and blood of Christ are present in the bread and wine consecrated during the Catholic eucharistic liturgy, generally known as the Mass. The definition of the Eucharist in the 1983 Code of Canon Law as the sacrament where Christ himself “is contained, offered, and received” points to the three aspects of the Eucharist according to Catholic theology: the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Holy Communion, and the holy sacrifice of the Mass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Origin of the Eucharist</span>

Some Christian denominations place the origin of the Eucharist in the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples, at which he is believed to have taken bread and given it to his disciples, telling them to eat of it, because it was his body, and to have taken a cup and given it to his disciples, telling them to drink of it because it was the cup of the covenant in his blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bread of Life Discourse</span> Parable in the Gospel according to John

The Bread of Life Discourse is a portion of the teaching of Jesus which appears in chapter 6 of John's Gospel and was delivered in the synagogue at Capernaum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road to Emmaus appearance</span> Event from the Gospel of Luke

According to the Gospel of Luke, the road to Emmaus appearance is one of the early post-resurrection appearances of Jesus after his crucifixion and the discovery of the empty tomb. Both the meeting on the road to Emmaus and the subsequent supper at Emmaus, depicting the meal that Jesus had with two disciples after the encounter on the road, have been popular subjects in art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Supper in Christian art</span>

The Last Supper of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles has been a popular subject in Christian art, often as part of a cycle showing the Life of Christ. Depictions of the Last Supper in Christian art date back to early Christianity and can be seen in the Catacombs of Rome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostles in the New Testament</span> Primary disciples of Jesus

In Christian theology and ecclesiology, the apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles, were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. During the life and ministry of Jesus in the 1st century AD, the apostles were his closest followers and became the primary teachers of the gospel message of Jesus. There is also an Eastern Christian tradition derived from the Gospel of Luke that there were seventy apostles during the time of Jesus' ministry.

Holy Leaven, also known as Malka, is a powder added to the sacramental bread used in the Eucharist of both the Ancient Church of the East and the Assyrian Church of the East and historically in the Church of the East. Both churches hold the Holy Leaven to be one of their seven sacraments. The Syro-Malabar Church in India, which was historically a part of the Church of the East, also uses Holy Leaven to prepare sacramental bread in several churches whereas unleavened bread is also in use. There are two rituals associated with the Holy Leaven: its addition to sacramental bread before it is baked, and the annual renewal of the Holy Leaven itself.

References

Notes

  1. Agape is one of the four main Greek words for love (Lewis 1960). It refers to the idealised or high-level unconditional love rather than lust, friendship, or affection (as in parental affection). Though Christians interpret Agape as meaning a divine form of love beyond human forms, in modern Greek the term is used in the sense of "I love you" (romantic love).

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Zuffi 2003, pp. 254–259.
  2. Cross & Livingstone 2005, p. 958, Last Supper.
  3. Windsor & Hughes 1990, p. 64.
  4. Hazen 2002, p. 34.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Evans 2003, pp. 465–477.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fahlbusch 2005, pp. 52–56.
  7. John 13:1–15
  8. John 13:33–35
  9. John 14–17
  10. 1 2 Cross & Livingstone 2005, p. 570, Eucharist.
  11. Kruse 2004, p. 103.
  12. Bromiley 1979, p. 164.
  13. 1 2 Wainwright & Tucker 2006.
  14. 1 2 Marshall 2006, p. 33.
  15. Jeremias 1966, p. 51–62.
  16. Meier 1991, pp. 302–309.
  17. 1 2 Pitre 2011.
  18. Funk 1998, pp. 1–40, Intruduction.
  19. 1 2 Bultmann 1963.
  20. 1 2 Bultmann 1958.
  21. Armentrout & Slocum 1999, p. 292.
  22. 1 2 Fitzmyer 1981, p. 1378.
  23. Thompson 1996, pp. 493–494.
  24. McGuckin 2010, pp. 293, 297.
  25. Mt. 26:17–30, Mk. 14:12–26, Lk. 22:7–39 and Jn. 13:1–17:26
  26. Harrington 2001, p. 49.
  27. 11:23–26
  28. Cox & Easley 2007, p. 182.
  29. Matthew 26:24–25, Mark 14:18–21, Luke 22:21–23 and John 13:21–30
  30. Mark 14:20–21
  31. Matthew 26:23–25 and John 13:26–27
  32. Sherman, Robert J. (2 March 2004). King, Priest, and Prophet: A Trinitarian Theology of Atonement. A&C Black. p. 176. ISBN   978-0-567-02560-9 . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  33. 1 2 Saulnier, Stéphane (3 May 2012). Calendrical Variations in Second Temple Judaism: New Perspectives on the 'Date of the Last Supper' Debate. BRILL. p. 3. ISBN   978-90-04-16963-0 . Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  34. Luke 22:19b–20
  35. Marshall et al. 1996, p. 697.
  36. Blomberg 2009, p. 333.
  37. Mark 14:22–24
  38. Matthew 26:26–28
  39. 1 Corinthians 11:23–25
  40. Luke 22:19–20
  41. Isaiah 53:12
  42. Exodus 24:8
  43. Brown et al. 626[ incomplete short citation ]
  44. John 6:58–59
  45. Freedman 2000, p. 792.
  46. Matthew 26:33–35, Mark 14:29–31, Luke 22:33–34 and John 13:36–8
  47. Perkins 2000, p. 85.
  48. Lange 1865, p. 499.
  49. Harris 1985, pp. 302–311.
  50. Jn 13:8
  51. John 13:33
  52. Köstenberger 2002, pp. 149–151.
  53. 1 2 Yarbrough 2008, p. 215.
  54. John 13:34–35
  55. John 15:12
  56. John 15:17
  57. John 14–16
  58. Funk & Hoover 1993.
  59. 1 2 Ridderbos 1997, pp. 546–76.
  60. Barnett 2002, pp. 19–21.
  61. Riesner 1998, pp. 19–27.
  62. Köstenberger, Kellum & Quarles 2009, pp. 77–79.
  63. Humphreys 2011, pp. 62–63.
  64. Mershman 1912.
  65. Green 1990, p. 333.
  66. "The Last Supper, Paul and Qumran: The Tail that Wagged the Dog | Bible Interp". bibleinterp.arizona.edu. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  67. Humphreys 2011, pp. 162, 168.
  68. Narayana 2011.
  69. Telford 2015, pp. 371–376.
  70. Mark 14:13–15
  71. Pixner 1990.
  72. Kilgallen 265[ incomplete short citation ]
  73. John 13:8
  74. 1 2 3 Dauphinais & Levering 2005, p. xix.
  75. 1 2 Wawrykow 2005a, pp. 124–125.
  76. John 15:15
  77. Pope 2002, p. 22.
  78. Wawrykow 2005b, p. 124.
  79. Rice & Huffstutler 2001, pp. 66–68.
  80. 1 2 3 Chen 2008, pp. 62–68.
  81. John 6:35
  82. 1 Cor. 11:24
  83. Mk. 14:22–24, Mt. 26:26–28, Lk. 22:19–20
  84. 1 Cor. 5:7
  85. Poupko & Sandmel 2017.
  86. Beaumont 2005, p. 145.
  87. Khalife 2012.
  88. Sanders 1995, pp. 10–11.
  89. Meier 1991, p. 398.
  90. 1 2 Funk 1998, pp. 51–161, Mark.
  91. Jeremias 1966, p. 51-62.
  92. Meier 1994, pp. 302–309.
  93. Wright 2014.
  94. McNamee 1998, p. 22–32.
  95. Zuffi 2003, p. 252.
  96. Buser 2006, pp. 382–383.
  97. Nichols 1999, p. 234.
  98. Stakhov & Olsen 2009, pp. 177–178.

Sources