The Agape Feast

The Agape Feast was the Love Feast in apostolic times and was often celebrated daily. This simple meal was observed in connection with the Eucharist, the two being spoken as the Lord's Supper. It was a simple meal and a public banquet like thanksgiving every day except the poor were invited and not just family. By ignoring all distinctions of economic and social status they all met as members of one family. This act of unity and brotherly love was common to all Christians who chose to come, whether rich or poor. The rich brought food for the poor who brought nothing. It symbolized the community of goods when it was just fading away. Portions were also sent to the sick and absent members and intended as an example of mutual Christian love for each other.

The food was prepared from home or at the place of meeting, usually in private residences. The bishop or presiding presbyter would preside, prayers of thanksgiving were offered and the Scriptures were read. After everyone had their fill, a collection was taken for the widows and orphans, a holy kiss of charity was given, and correspondence from other churches were read and answered. The Agape Feast was never mandated by divine authority and gradually lost its popularity.

The Corinthian church was the first to lose the first love by destroying the unity between rich and poor and depreciating the Eucharist. Paul wrote that he could not praise them for it. "When you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you and I partly believe it. For there must also be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When you come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating every one takes before the other his own supper, and one is hungry and another is drunken." Jude writes of ungodly men among them: "These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear..."

Instead of correcting the abuses, the church gradually abandoned the Love Feast. The communion ritual remained but the Agape was gone. Many times through history has the church tried to pick up where it left off in the purity of the early church, but the true agape love of the brethren is shown in the unity, not the purity. It is our responsibility to come together as one in love, then Jesus will make us pure.
[377, I Corinthians 11, Jude, 380, BD]



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