Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Ben Witherington III

Quote by Ben Witherington III

“Is the Lord’s Supper only for Christians? Whenever I ask this question I immediately remember the character of those that partook of the Last Supper with Jesus. They were certainly Jews, some better Jews than others, but Jesus shared this meal knowingly even with Judas. Or again consider the Emmaus Road encounter. Jesus shares this meal with those who had given up on his being the One to redeem Israel, who were leaving Jerusalem downcast and disappointed, and who were oblivious to the fact that it was Jesus who was speaking and sharing with them! There has to be a balance in the liturgy to help the congregation make a decision if they themselves are ready to partake of this Meal in a worthy manner (hence the 'ye who do truly and earnestly repent' clause), while at the same time joyfully welcoming all who are willing and ready and able to do so.”

Quote by Ben Witherington III

Book:Making a Meal of It: Rethinking the Theology of the Lord's Supper
Create image

Work

Making a Meal of It: Rethinking the Theology of the Lord's Supper

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Ben Witherington III

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Ben Witherington III. more

You May Also Like

“In the wake of the Reformation, as the correct reading of scripture became a matter of increasingly high stakes, Hebrew, as well as Aramaic, Samaritan, Ethiopian, Armenian, and other languages that preserved versions of scripture and documents of the early church, became essential weapons of theological warfare.”

Orientalism2013ExegesisProtestant ReformationBiblical InterpretationCounter Reformation
Book:Egyptian Oedipus: Athanasius Kircher and the Secrets of Antiquity
Create image

“The Reformation is one root of the idea of human freedom and autonomy as it is represented in modern democracy. However, while this aspect is always stressed, especially in non-Catholic countries, its other aspect—its emphasis on the wickedness of human nature, it insignificance and powerlessness of the individual, and the necessity for the individual to subordinate himself to a power outside himself—is neglected. This idea of the unworthiness of the individual, his fundamental inability to rely on himself and his need to submit, is also the main theme of Hitler's ideology, which, however, lacks the emphasis on freedom and moral principles which was inherent to Protestantism.”

FascismWickednessNazismProtestantism1941Protestant Reformation
Book:Escape from Freedom
Create image

“The compulsive quest for certainty, as we find with Luther, is not the expression of genuine faith but is rooted in the need to conquer the unbearable doubt. Luther's solution is one which we find present in many individuals today, who do not think in theological terms: namely to find certainty by elimination of the isolated individual self, by becoming an instrument in the hands of an overwhelmingly strong power outside of the individual. For Luther this power was God and in unqualified submission he sought certainty. But although he thus succeeded in silencing his doubts to some extent, they never really disappeared; up to his last day he had attacks of doubt which he had to conquer by renewed efforts toward submission.”

DoubtCertaintySubmissionAuthoritarianismMartin Luther1941Protestant Reformation
Book:Escape from Freedom
Create image

“In the Toll Booth, Margaret knelt down to pray. Even now they could not leave her in peace, but - after all that had happened! - bade her to pray and they would pray with her. To consent would have been taken as a surrender of all for which she was giving her life. It was no time to mince words, so she answered roundly: "I will not pray with you, nor shall you pray with me; neither will I say Amen to your prayers, nor shall you to mine." What fellowship has light with darkness?”

CatholicCatholicismProtestantismProtestant Reformation
Book:St. Margaret Clitherow, c. 1553-1586
Create image