Is Transubstantiation During Communion Supported By The New Testament Or Early Church History?

The Bible shows that eating physical objects metaphorically does not always mean destroying them (See Psalm 27:2; Isaiah 9:20). In a positive context, it means ingesting the spiritual reality that God has provided (See Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 55:1; Ezekiel 2:8-9; 1 Peter 2:2-3).

The actual Communion service instituted by Jesus is recorded four times in the New Testament (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-13; 1 Corinthians 11:17-26). The text indicates that Jesus' words are not to be taken literally because "eating" His "flesh" would have cannibalistic overtones to Jews who were strictly forbidden by the Law of Moses to eat blood (Leviticus 17:14). Jesus said, "this is my body" (Gk: ‘soma’), not "this is my flesh" (Gk: ‘sarx’). Logically, if Communion was in mind in John 6, it is more likely that the word "body" would have been used. Nowhere in Scripture is Communion spoken of as eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-22; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

The communion elements are called "bread" and the "cup" [of wine] or "fruit of the vine" (Matthew 26:29) after it is prayed over (consecrated) and they were eating it, not the body and blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-28). Jesus offered Himself once and for all (Hebrews 7:27; 9:7,26,28; 10:10). His body is not offered over and over again each time Mass is given in the RCC.

Transubstantiation entails worshiping the Eucharist/Communion elements because it is the worship of created things, contrary to the prohibition of eating blood and against idolatry (Leviticus 17:14; Exodus 20:4-5; Romans 1:25).

In Remembrance

"…do this in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NIV)

The early Church considered the taking of Communion not as a ritual ceremony but as a holy act and treated it as such. It was at the forefront of every meeting, and the elements were prominently displayed in the front of the church, be it an altar or table. It is vitally important that Christians partake of Communion in contemplative reverence to remember the broken body and shed blood of Jesus because it proclaims His death for the forgiveness of sin that brought reconciliation between humanity and God. When Christians receive the emblems of His body and blood, they partake of the power of God.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV)

The blood is the power of the anointing that breaks every yoke. Taking Communion signifies that they have faith in His blood, the blood that was shed to forgive and save, and are continually being saved from things that can attack physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Whether Christians partake in Communion daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually, they are to "examine" and judge themselves just as King David did.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24 KJV)