Lord's Supper as memorial ordinance

What it is: The Baptist tradition usually treats the Lord's Supper as an ordinance instituted by Christ, celebrated in memory of his death and with strong communal and spiritual value.

How the tradition understands it: In many Baptist contexts, the Supper is read in a memorial and proclamatory key rather than sacramentally in the classical Catholic or Lutheran sense. Even so, it is celebrated with seriousness, self-examination, and reverence.

Basis and context: This understanding consolidated in dialogue with other Protestant traditions and with strong influence of memorialist readings.

Debates and variations: There are differences about open, closed, or semi-closed communion and about the degree of spiritual language applied to the presence of Christ.

Supportive

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

baptist,supper,ordinance,memorial

The tradition of the Lord's Supper.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Content: Paul hands on the tradition of the supper in memory of Christ until he comes.
Use in debate: It is the principal basis for the supper as a memorial ordinance in many Baptist churches.

Luke 22:19-20

baptist,supper,memorial,jesus

Institution of the supper in memory of Jesus.

Reference: Luke 22:19-20.
Content: Jesus associates bread and cup with his self-giving and commands memorial repetition.
Use in debate: It is frequently used in defense of the supper as a reverent memorial.

Neutral

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

bible,supper,protestantism,worship

Tradition of the Lord's Supper.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.
Content: Paul transmits the tradition of the supper and its memorial repetition until the Lord's return.
Use in debate: It is central to the various Protestant readings of the supper.