There is little doubt that the early Christians from apostolic times performed the bread and wine ceremony (eucharist) every Sunday. However Russell made it a one time per year event.
Isn't this move strange and suspicious? The "teachings of the apostles" an early christian book of the 1st century and Justin the martyr (died 165AD)both mention the breaking of bread and drinking of wine each and every Sunday, the day Jesus was resurrected. They used to have a meal called agapi that is love feast (everyone contributed some food from their homes), and the Eucharist with it.
So why don't the dubs follow the apostolic tradition though they claim to be its revival (!!!) in our times?
The memorial service once a year or once a week? Which is apostolic?
by greendawn 36 Replies latest jw friends
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greendawn
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TheListener
Great question Greendawn. Thanks for asking it.
This is something I've been thinking about as well.
I know the society has discussed this in detail. If no one else posts it I'll look at my CDrom later and post some relevant WT quotes that we can discuss and perhaps debunk.
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Elsewhere
I say it should be done once every 33 years... just like Jesus did it!
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Mary
Jesus didn't tell his followers how often they should eat the bread and drink the wine. He simply said "Keep doing this in remembrance of me."
The Witnesses take the stand that, seeing as Jesus was celebrating the Passover, which was observed only once a year, then the Memorial of the anniversary of his death should also only be celebrated once a year. While there is logic to this reasoning, I don't see any problem with the churches doing it on a weekly basis and there's nothing in the bible to indicate that this is "wicked" or "apostate" in any way, shape or form.
So why don't the dubs follow the apostolic tradition though they claim to be its revival (!!!) in our times?
Because they generally don't claim that they do follow "apostolic tradition". They claim they follow Jesus and his immediate disciples.....If memory serves, Justin Martyr is considered to be one of the Apostolic Fathers (correct me if I'm wrong on that) who lived after Jesus' immediate apostles had all died. In fact, although the WTS generally gives credit to Justin Martyr, their true feelings about him can still be found in their literature:
*** w68 9/1 p. 517 Is Your Soul Immortal? ***Christendom cites Justin (who died about the year 165 of our Common Era) as one of its martyrs.
As everyone here knows, the WTS considers "Christendom" as under the influence of Satan and with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The fact that they label Justin Martyr as "one of its martyrs" instead of being a "martyr of Jehovah" or a Martyr of Jesus", says that they really didn't think very much of him at all.
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tall penguin
Perhaps I missed this in my "daily bible reading" but is there any reference in the nt to the apostles celebrating the "memorial" instituted by christ, after his death?
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Narkissos
TP,
Actually the Eucharist in the Synoptic Gospels echoes the Pauline institution in 1 Corinthians 11:23ff -- I guess that makes it "apostolic".
As for the time, one should note the recurrent formula "on the first day of the week" (= Sunday) in the NT: it's the day of Jesus' resurrection (Mark 16:2//), the ordinary moment for Christian meeting and "breaking bread" (Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2). One even finds the Christian Greek specific term for sunday, kuriakè, in Revelation 1:10 ("the day of the Lord").
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stev
The practice of celebrating the Lord's Supper once a year on 14 Nisan came from Storrs. -
tall penguin
Narkissos: "Actually the Eucharist in the Synoptic Gospels echoes the Pauline institution in 1 Corinthians 11:23ff -- I guess that makes it "apostolic"."
I guess what I'm wondering is if it was such a big event like the jws make it out to be, wouldn't there have been more mention made of it? (I'm talking from their perspective here.)
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stillAwitness
And what's up with the counsel on in case the Memorial has to be cancelled (due to inclement weather or whatnot) that we are able to celebrate it exactly one month later.
Where did they find that hogwash?
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stev
http://giveshare.org/churchhistory/born%20again.htm
Russell was also indebted to Storrs for the observance of Passover on 14 Abib, rather than as a weekly or quarterly Lord’s Supper (Apocalypse Delayed, page 17).