The first thing to notice is the great but not verbatim consistency between Paul’s relating of Jesus’ words and actions in mandating the ritual found in the Synoptic Gospels. There are differences, but the agreement is far more obvious than the differences. The idea and language of substitution is present in all of them, although in Luke it is most obviously communicated through Jesus’ words concerning the bread, “This is my body, which is given for you” (22:19), and also in his words for the cup, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (22:20).18 The language of
...more
