The Cup of Blessing 1 Corinthians 10:16

Paul told the church members in Corinth, “there was no temptation taken” them “but such as is common to man”, he reminded them that “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that” they “might be able to bear it”. He also exhorted them to “flee from idolatry”, and to “judge” what he “says”, and in chapter ten and verse sixteen of First Corinthians, Paul referred to, “the cup of blessing which we bless” where we read:

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?

The verse begins, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?”. Paul began with the words, “the cup” which literally means “a drinking vessel” and metaphorically means “one's lot or experience, whether joyous or adverse, divine appointments, whether favorable or unfavorable and is likened to a cup which God presents one to drink“of blessing” which refers to “praise, laudation, panegyric, benediction and consecration” “which” or “that” “we bless” which means “Paul and the church members celebrate with praises, invoke blessings and consecrate a thing with solemn prayers”, “is it not the communion” which means “is the cup of blessing not the same as fellowship, association, community, communion and joint participation” “of the blood” or “the bloodshed” “of Christ” which refers to “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”? “The Jewish "cup of blessing" was used in the giving of thanks which were offered in the Passover”, and it was incorporated by Jesus as part of the Lord's supper.

The verse continues, “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” Paul added the words, “The bread” which means “the food composed of flour mixed with water and baked” “which we break” or “that Paul and the church members share and break together”, “is it not” which means “not like the bread of” “the communion” which refers to “the same as fellowship, association, community, communion and joint participation” “of the body” or “the corpse” “of Christ” which refers to “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”? Jesus also used the “bread” as part of the Lord's supper, and those who eat it together signify the “koinōnia” fellowship together.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he brought the elements of “communion” into his discourse on the worship of idols. Jesus used the “cup of blessing” and the “bread” to demonstrate the sacrifice He made in His body, and when believers participate in them, they partake of the Lord's sacrifice and refute all other “false gods”. Let us be reminded of Jesus' commitment to all who will believe in Him, and never forget the meaning of the “cup of blessing we bless” or “the bread which we bless”.

Next time Paul shares how, “we being many are one bread”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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