Receiving you loud and clear
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…
1 Corinthians 11:23 (NIV)
I was interested to learn quite recently that Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, although appearing two thirds of the way through the New Testament, was actually written down earlier than any of the gospels.
Nevertheless, we know that Paul was not actually present at the Lord’s Supper, therefore he was not an eyewitness of the event. How then can he say, as he does, in the header scripture above, ‘I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you’?
Some say that he is referring here to oral tradition: Paul had learned these words from Christians before him who had themselves received them directly from the Lord. And certainly the Greek word paralambanō, translated ‘received’, can carry that meaning.
Others, however, say that Paul received these and other instructions by direct revelation from Christ himself, leading to the Amplified Bible, among others, translating the same verse a little differently: ‘For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally]…’ (1 Corinthians 11:23 AMPC).
This idea is supported by another of Paul’s letters, the one written to the church in Galatia, where he writes, ‘I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.’ (Galatians 1:11-12 NIV).
Whichever way you cut it, Jesus made sure that his words, his actions, and the good news of his life story were accurately recorded for us to read and believe today.
As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper this Maundy Thursday, how wonderful it is to know that, however it is relayed to us, by word of mouth from eye witnesses, or direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself, the gospel of our Lord and Saviour, the Messiah, God in the flesh is being received all over the world, loud and clear.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for the crystal clear message of our Lord’s life on earth, death on the cross, resurrection as the first fruits and ascension to heaven, where he awaits his imminent return to usher in his kingdom in all its fullness. Amen.
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Study by: Peter Mill About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Central Glasgow
Garnethill Room
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260 Bath Street
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