Page 56 - BV7

Some always question the meaning of Paul in verses 27-29, in I Corinthians 11. The apos-
tle is not speaking about a Christian being worthy or unworthy to take it. It is speaking of the man-
ner in which it is done. We take it unworthily if we take it wrongly, in the wrong manner. Once we
learn the truth about its observance, and yet take it at any other time than when God says, then we
take it unworthily. We take it unworthily if we do not accept the body and blood of Christ. So let's
not take this most sacred ordinance to our condemnation, but take it worthily instead!

"Easter" a Mistranslation

Following the example of Jesus and the apostles, the early Church observed the Passover,
and the Days of Unleavened Bread which immediately followed. Notice Acts 12:3. The Holy
Spirit of God inspired these words: "Then were the days of unleavened bread." But in the next
verse we read of "Easter."

We have already seen that "Easter" was injected into the Church years after the time of
Christ. Again, this word "Easter" is a mistranslation. The original Greek word is pascha, meaning
Passover. In every other place, exactly the same word is used in the original and always rendered
Passover. Many other translations faithfully render this verse in Acts as "intending after the Passo-
ver to bring him forth to the people."

So this verse, instead of mentioning Easter, really proves that the Church, ten years after
the death of Christ, was still observing Passover.

What Does "Break Bread" Mean?

There are some denominations that read Acts 20:7 as a proof that the "Lord's Supper"
should be taken each Sunday morning! First notice that this was after the Days of Unleavened
Bread (verse 6). Paul was preaching a farewell meeting, not on Sunday morning, but on Saturday
night. It was after midnight (verse 7), that they broke bread because they were hungry. When they
"had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day," Paul departed.

So this was just an ordinary meal!

The same expression "break bread" is found in Acts 27:34, 35. "Wherefore I pray you to
take some meat ... he took bread ... and when he had broken it, he began to eat." Also Acts 2:46:
"And breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness." This could not possi-
bly have been the "Lord's Supper" or, more properly, Passover, because Paul says that if we take it
to satisfy our hunger we take it to our condemnation (I Cor. 11:34). In that day, everyone "broke
bread" at ordinary meals, because they did not have the kind of bread that we slice. Jesus broke
bread because it was at the Passover supper, while eating a meal.

We need to return to the faith once delivered. Let us humbly and obediently observe this
sacred ordinance as we are commanded, at the scriptural time, after sunset, the 15th of Abib ac-
cording to the sacred calendar.

56