Remembrance

A little word is bothering me again.  

That little pesky word "remembrance."

I know I have blogged about it...and I thought I had put it to rest...

But I took another look at my Strong's Exhaustive Concordance today at the Greek word anamnesis ("remembrance") that is found in the Eucharist passages of Luke 22:19 ("this do in remembrance of me") and 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 ("this do in remembrance of me"..."as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me").  And strangely enough, this particular Greek word it is found in only one other passage in the New Testament:

"But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year." --Hebrews 10:3

What is peculiar (and downright disconcerting to me) is that this passage speaks in the context of sacrifice.

So this led me to consider the other passages in the New Testament that use the English word "remembrance" but are derived from another, albeit similiar, Greek word, anamimnesko.  This word has a bit broader translation to include, "to remind, to recollect, call to mind, remember."  And the passages which use this particular Greek word are as follows:

• "For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church." --1 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)**
• Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.--2 Timothy 1:6 (KJV)
• "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions" --Hebrews 10:32 (KJV)

Notice that none of these passages speak in the context of sacrifice.  Instead, they speak to simply recalling, bringing to mind, and remembering. This is the same way that, as a Protestant, I have always interpreted the Eucharist passages of Luke and 1 Corinthians (top of page).

Was Jesus and Paul making a particular, theological point by using the specific Greek form of the word "remembrance"...a word whose only other biblical usage is used in the context of animal sacrifices in the book of Hebrews?  Might they be stating that the Eucharist/Passover meal was to be regarded, not simply as a memorial or an intellectual recalling to mind...but rather an exhortation to "remind yourself of something by participating in a sacrifice"?  Might the Eucharist meal be more of what the Catholic church supports--a transubstantiation of the elements to include Christ's true body and blood on the alter, to partake of during the daily Mass?

And so my wrestling continues, dear friend!  Would you join me as we prayerfully ask for the light of God's Truth to be shed upon our hearts, churches, and lives?  Will you be open to ask real questions from the Scriptures, to strengthen and renew our faith? For I will never pretend to know all the answers to life or the Scriptures, but I am so glad I know the One who does!


**All Scripture is stated in the KJV for continuity sake, as this is what Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is based upon