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.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:25KJV
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1 Corinthians 11:25 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 11:25 mean?

1 Corinthians 11:25 describes how Jesus, during his last meal with his disciples, took a cup of wine and told them it represented a new covenant established by his blood, instructing them to drink it in remembrance of him whenever they did so. The verse highlights the symbolic act of drinking the cup as a way for believers to remember Jesus and the new relationship with God that he made possible.

Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, reminding them of what Jesus did and said at the Last Supper. The verse is part of Paul's instructions about the Lord's Supper, emphasizing that this practice is not just a ritual but a meaningful act of remembering Jesus' sacrifice and the new agreement between God and people.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 11:25

  • διαθήκη (diathēkē, G1242) — "testament" or "covenant": This word means a binding agreement or contract. Here, it refers to the "new covenant" Jesus established, which would have reminded Jewish listeners of God's promises in the Old Testament, now fulfilled in a new way.
  • ἀνάμνησις (anamnēsis, G364) — "remembrance": This word means more than just recalling a memory; it carries the sense of actively bringing something to mind and honoring it. Paul is stressing that the act of drinking the cup is meant to be a living, ongoing remembrance of Jesus.
  • αἷμα (haima, G129) — "blood": In the ancient world, blood represented life and sacrifice. By saying "my blood," Jesus was pointing to his coming death and the cost of the new covenant.

Why 1 Corinthians 11:25 matters

  • 1 Corinthians 11:25 clarifies that the Lord’s Supper is not just a tradition but a way for believers to remember and honor what Jesus did for them.
  • The verse connects the Christian practice of communion directly to Jesus’ own words and actions, grounding it in his authority and intention.
  • By calling the cup the "new covenant," Paul shows that Jesus’ death brought about a new way for people to relate to God, replacing the old system of sacrifices and laws with a relationship based on grace.