What does "This cup is the new covenant in My blood" mean in 1 Corinthians 11:25? Text Of 1 Corinthians 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.’” Covenant Backdrop In Scripture A covenant (Heb. berith, Gk. diathēkē) is a solemn, binding commitment initiated by God. The Sinai covenant was sealed with sacrificial blood: “Moses…took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold, the blood of the covenant’” (Exodus 24:8). Jeremiah later announced a “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34) characterized by internalized law and final forgiveness. Copies of Jeremiah among the Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g., 4QJerᵇ, c. 200 BC) confirm the antiquity of this promise. The Passover Setting And The Cup Paul reminds the Corinthians of what Jesus did “on the night He was betrayed” (1 Corinthians 11:23). That night was a Passover meal (Luke 22:15). First-century Jewish sources (Mishnah Pesahim 10) describe four cups; the third, called the “Cup of Redemption,” is most likely the one Jesus redefined. Archaeological finds of stone drinking vessels in Jerusalem’s first-century priestly neighborhoods corroborate the cultural context of ritual purity during Passover. “This Cup” – A Metonymy For What It Contains Hebrew idiom often names a vessel to speak of its contents (Isaiah 51:17 — “the cup of His wrath”). Thus, “this cup” points to the wine representing Christ’s lifeblood. “Is The New Covenant” – Inauguration, Not Mere Symbol The verb estin (“is”) denotes reality, not imagination. As with “This is My body” (v. 24), the cup establishes the covenant Jesus is mediating (Hebrews 9:15). In the Near-Eastern suzerain treaties, a covenant was enacted with a meal after sacrifice; here, the sacrifice (the cross) and the meal (the Supper) unite. “In My Blood” – Substitutionary Atonement Blood in Scripture signifies life given in place of another (Leviticus 17:11). Jesus identifies His own blood as the ratifying agent of the new covenant, fulfilling Isaiah 53:5 (“pierced for our transgressions”) and echoing the Passover lamb whose blood spared Israel (Exodus 12:13). First-century Roman historians, e.g., Tacitus (Annals 15.44), record the early Christian claim that Christ was executed under Pontius Pilate, lending non-Christian corroboration to the historical shedding of that blood. Remembrance (Anamnēsis) – Covenant Renewal, Not Mere Memory Anamnēsis implies active re-presentation before God (cf. Numbers 10:10 LXX). Believers proclaim the Lord’s death, participate in its benefits, and anticipate His return (1 Corinthians 11:26). The recurring practice is covenantal rehearsal, comparable to Joshua’s covenant renewals (Joshua 24). Theological Implications 1. Mediator: Jesus supersedes Moses (Hebrews 3:3-6). 2. Forgiveness Finality: “Their sins I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34) becomes reality because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). 3. Spirit Empowerment: The new covenant gift of the Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) was poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2), historically attested by Luke and affirmed by manuscript P⁴⁵ (c. AD 200). 4. Eschatology: The cup points to the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). Practical And Ethical Dimensions Paul applies covenant logic against Corinthian abuses: partaking “in an unworthy manner” risks judgment (11:27-32). Covenant loyalty demands self-examination, unity, and holiness—parallels to the behavioral expectations in ancient treaty meals. Summary Definition “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” means that the wine of the Lord’s Supper stands as the legally binding, God-initiated pledge enacted by the sacrificial death of Christ. By drinking, believers corporately affirm their inclusion in that covenant, receive its benefits of forgiveness and Spirit-empowered transformation, proclaim Christ’s atoning death, and anticipate His victorious return. |
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