Correcting A Blunder
This article is written to correct a mistake which I have made. This mistake was caused by ignorance for which there is no justification — I failed to check on the meaning of a phrase. In writing on the subject, "Approved Example," I have made an argument on the word "often" used in 1 Cor. 11:25,26. In substance the argument was that the express command tells us to do it "often" but does not tell us how "often" or when. The design of the argument was to show that the express command required frequency of observance; such is not the case for the idea of frequency is not in the word used in this connection.
The phrase "as often as" comes from a Greek word which is defined as "how many times" or "as often soever as." This term occurs three times in the New Testament, viz., (1 Cor. 11:25, 26 and Rev. 11:6). The idea is that every time we eat the Lord's supper it is to be done in remembrance of Christ. Every time (how many times) we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death till he come. The passage does not say that the Lord's supper is to be eaten frequently, but it does say that every time the Lord's supper is eaten, we proclaim his death. We are thrown squarely on the example of Acts 20:7 for our authority of first day observance.
The word "often" in the sense of frequent, common or repeated comes from a different Greek word which means "many a time." This word is used in such passages as Mk. 5:4; Acts 26:11; 2 Cor. 11:23 etc. Even if this word were the word used in 1 Cor. 11:25, 26, it would not be true, as one brother wrote that, "Once each week is often; once each year is not often." In proof of this, notice Heb. 9:25, 26, "Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year . . . . but now once at the end of the ages . . . . " In this place year by year is spoken of as often in contrast to once. Often here has the idea of repeated. This word also expresses the idea of frequency in such passages as Matt. 17:15; 2 Tim. 1:16 etc.; however, there is still another Greek word which more precisely expresses the idea of frequency. This is the word which is translated "often" in Lk. 5:33; Acts 24:26; 1 Tim. 5:23.
The word which is translated "as often as" in 1 Cor. 11:25. 26 does not carry the idea of frequency; hence, we cannot learn what the will of the Lord is with reference to the time of partaking of the Lord's supper from this command. The approved apostolic example of Acts 20:7 is the part of the word of the Lord from which our faith comes on this point. If the day upon which we partake of the Lord's supper is a matter of faith, then approved example is the authority for it. Brethren, it is hard to kick against the goad! You are going to have to accept either the teaching of example or make the first day observance of the Lord's supper an incidental. What about it? Is it an incidental thing or is it a matter of faith?