Skip to content

Add your phone number?

Optional. Nothing is sent unless you choose it.
The Historic Faith
Sign in

Jumpstarter 8 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion
Church Life: AD 150  /  Communion  /  Discussion Questions
All Questions
Question 8
Cyprian opposed quickly readmitting those who sacrificed to idols, requiring years of repentance before communion, and Bercot highlights “closely guarded communion” for baptized believers “living as Christ commanded”; what does that practice assume about God’s holiness and the danger of “unworthy” participation, and how does that collide with modern habits of open communion and instant restoration?
Another way to ask: Cyprian required long repentance before some people could take communion again, and Bercot points to communion being carefully guarded for baptized believers living obediently. What does that say about God’s holiness and the risk of taking communion “unworthily,” and how does it clash with open communion and quick restoration today?

Direct Answer

The practice assumes communion is holy and spiritually dangerous to take lightly, so the church must guard people from partaking “unworthily” and profaning “the sacred body of the Lord.” This collides with modern habits that treat communion as casual and open to anyone without testing repentance, baptism, or obedience.

Support from Transcript:

  • Cyprian criticizes presbyters who quickly gave the lapsed “the Eucharist…[and] dare to profane the sacred body of the Lord.”
  • He grounds the warning in Paul: “Whoever…drinks…unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.”
  • Bercot explains that in North Africa leaders required “10 years” of repentance for those who renounced Christ (showing how serious communion access was).
  • Justin Martyr says “no one is allowed to partake… but the one who believes…has been washed…[baptized]…and who is living as Christ has commanded.”
  • Bercot describes it as “closely guarded communion,” not indiscriminate, to prevent accidental unworthy participation.
Discussion Follow-ups

What does it say about our view of holiness if we fear excluding someone more than we fear profaning the table? How might repentance and restoration look if communion is treated as sacred, not routine?

Jumpstarter 8 of 10
Back Questions Next