Context matters! The Passover and the Eucharist

[novusCatholic]

I just finished reading a great book on the Eucharist titled, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, by Dr. Brant Pitre.

Applying first century, Jewish context to the Last Supper and the Passion of Christ provides very strong support for the Church’s teachings on the Eucharist and the Real Presence. The book explores the Passover, the Manna from heaven, the Bread of the Presence, the sacrifices at the Temple, and the Crucifixion. I learned a lot, and I highly recommend it.

“This is my body…” In that culture, during Passover, in that room, after everything else that Jesus had said and done… It wasn’t just a symbol. Context matters!

 

[nickybr38]

I just finished reading a great book on the Eucharist titled, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, by Dr. Brant Pitre.

Applying first century, Jewish context to the Last Supper and the Passion of Christ provides very strong support for the Church’s teachings on the Eucharist and the Real Presence. The book explores the Passover, the Manna from heaven, the Bread of the Presence, the sacrifices at the Temple, and the Crucifixion. I learned a lot, and I highly recommend it.

“This is my body…” In that culture, during Passover, in that room, after everything else that Jesus had said and done… It wasn’t just a symbol. Context matters!

 

[philial]

I wholly agree - the best book I’ve read in a long time. I guess the problem with many protestant congregations, especially more recent ones, is that they have lost contact with 1st century jewish culture. By holding on to her teachings, the Church, perhaps not always knowingly, has maintained the links which has enabled us to explore the setting of the first Eucharist, and allows us, more than ever, to see the depthws of the Lord’s statement " I am the bread which has come down from Heaven."

The Manna, the Bread of Presence, leads to the fullness of the Eucharistic Lord!

 

[maltmom]

This was one of my favorite books while studying to come into the Church. I even recommended it to my Priest. He hadn’t heard of it.

 

[Prague]

I am reading it now and am so glad I bought it.

 

[BenedictFTW]

Thank you very much for this. I am just going to try ordering it from Amazon! God bless

 

[novusCatholic]

…I guess the problem with many protestant congregations, especially more recent ones, is that they have lost contact with 1st century jewish culture…

I agree. Well, now that I realize it, I agree.

It think that many people rely completely on their personal and modern interpretations of the New Testament. They don’t consider the Jewish traditions and culture of the time, they don’t give enough attention to the Old Testament (typology), and they usually ignore the beliefs and practices of the first generations of Christians (Church Fathers). As a result, much is lost.

I’m a good example. I grew up in church (protestant), but had never heard of OT typology or the Church Fathers. I’m trying to catch up by reading books like this one!

 

[joshua_b]

I agree. Well, now that I realize it, I agree.

It think that many people rely completely on their personal and modern interpretations of the New Testament. They don’t consider the Jewish traditions and culture of the time, they don’t give enough attention to the Old Testament (typology), and they usually ignore the beliefs and practices of the first generations of Christians (Church Fathers). As a result, much is lost.

I’m a good example. I grew up in church (protestant), but had never heard of OT typology or the Church Fathers. I’m trying to catch up by reading books like this one!

I have said before, it never ceases to amaze me how much sense Catholocism makes in light of ancient Judaism. The more I learn about 1st century Jewish culture and religion, the more I am struck by exactly how Catholic the gospel really is.

 

[patrick457]

I agree. Well, now that I realize it, I agree.

It think that many people rely completely on their personal and modern interpretations of the New Testament. They don’t consider the Jewish traditions and culture of the time, they don’t give enough attention to the Old Testament (typology), and they usually ignore the beliefs and practices of the first generations of Christians (Church Fathers). As a result, much is lost.

I’m a good example. I grew up in church (protestant), but had never heard of OT typology or the Church Fathers. I’m trying to catch up by reading books like this one!

I think the main problem with certain sectors of Protestantism - especially the puritanical Biblicist types - is that they hold to an “ideal,” a romanticized image of what they think the early Church is like (which more often, tells us more about those who hold this idealized image than actual early Christianity itself), rather than what the Church actually was.

 

[philial]

I agree. Well, now that I realize it, I agree.

It think that many people rely completely on their personal and modern interpretations of the New Testament. They don’t consider the Jewish traditions and culture of the time, they don’t give enough attention to the Old Testament (typology), and they usually ignore the beliefs and practices of the first generations of Christians (Church Fathers). As a result, much is lost.

I’m a good example. I grew up in church (protestant), but had never heard of OT typology or the Church Fathers. I’m trying to catch up by reading books like this one!

It’s certainly a good way of doing so

Typology is also behind much of what the Church understands about the Virgin, too. Another reason, possibly, why certain groups prefer to avoid the subject?

Yes, patrick, you’m right - all highly romanticized. Except for the prosperity gospellers - they forget about the bit the tells of ‘holding all things in common’ !!!