| by John W. Ritenbaugh (Lancaster, South Carolina) |
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| A rule of Bible study is never to base a doctrine on the meaning of a Greek or Hebrew word, and this controversy is a prime example. It is true that artos, used in all of the gospel accounts for the bread eaten during the Last Supper, is the Greek word for “bread.” However, this word is a very general or generic term, much like the English word “bread” is. We use “bread” for everything from white to whole wheat to pumpernickel bread. We also use it for breads made of corn, barley, rye, spelt, rice, and other grains. We use it for sourdough as well as for sweet breads like banana and pumpkin. And, most importantly, we use it for both leavened and unleavened breads. We even use it as a generic term for food (as in “our daily bread”)! The Greeks did the same with artos. Greek also has a word for “unleavened,” azumos (also transliterated as azymos), which is literally “without yeast.” Yet just because this word does not appear in the gospel accounts of the Last Supper does not mean that the bread Jesus and His disciples ate was leavened. Gerhard Kittle’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, a pre-eminent source on New Testament Greek, says this on the word azumos: P. Fiebig [a Greek-language scholar] . . . shows that the term artos does not exclude azumos, but that in certain circumstances, e.g., in description of the Passover, it may mean this. Hence the occurrence of artos at the Last Supper is no proof that this was not really the Passover. In addition, both early Jewish writers Josephus and Philo use artos in their description of the matzo of the Passover meal. Also, the loaves of the unleavened showbread in the Tabernacle and Temple, were regularly called artoi (plural of artos). It is understandable, then, that the gospel writers used the generic term artos because they knew that their readers would know what kind of bread they were talking about. We also need to understand the “sop” itself. This is the Greek word psomion, and means “a morsel,” “a crumb,” “a bit,” “a fragment,” or as Strong’s interprets, “a mouthful.” Thus, it means a piece of food, and in the Last Supper, one used particularly for dipping. Therefore, the word does not necessarily suggest that the sop was used for soaking up liquid. It could also be used like a potato or tortilla chip for dipping in a sauce or for scooping up smaller bits of another food toward the mouth. We have a traditional picture in our minds of Jesus dipping a piece of bread in gravy or something akin to salsa, but John 13:26-27 does not tell us what Jesus dipped the piece of bread in. It could have been yogurt, gravy, oil, a sauce, or any number of other things. Thus, that the bread must have been leavened so as to be soft and absorbent is not contemplated in the term. Lastly, it is nearly a certainty that the bread Jesus and His disciples used during the meal was the same bread that Jesus used to teach them the Passover symbol of the bread as representing His broken body (Matthew 26:26). His body did not contain any sin! Leaven is a primary biblical symbol of sin and corruption. Would Christ want His disciples to memorialize His sacrifice every year by thinking of Him as leavened, that is, sinful? Certainly not! We are to remember that He sacrificed Himself as the perfect, sinless Lamb of God to pay for sin in our stead (I Corinthians 5:6-7; Hebrews 9:11-14: I Peter 2:21-24). In fact, taking the Passover with leavened bread is tantamount to blasphemy, as it distorts and repudiates the sinless sacrifice of our Savior. Because Jesus fulfilled all righteousness (Matthew 3:15)—meaning, He did everything perfectly—it is safe to conclude that the sop, and thus the bread in the Passover symbol, was unleavened. ———————————————————————————- Reprinted with permission from: Church of the Great God https://www.cgg.org/ ———————————————————————————- |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Was the Sop Leavened or Unleavened? (John 13:26-27) Article by John W. Ritenbaugh Comments by Darwin Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| This short article is a great help in ferreting out the apparent discrepancy of eating leavened bread or unleavened bread for Christ’s sacrifice. Why would Christ use leavened bread (artos) for introducing the New Testament symbols for His body, when Exd.: 34:25 is quite specific that we are not to eat leavened bread with His sacrifice. Exodus 34:25 (KJV) Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left unto the morning. |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Was the Sop Leavened or Unleavened? (John 13:26-27) Article by John W. Ritenbaugh Comments by Ray Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) |
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| As to the eating of leavened bread or unleavened bread the evening of the Passover observance on the 14th day of the month. People seem to forget that the sacrificial lamb was not eaten until the morning of the 15th. When all of the Israelite’s would have their meal. And it was only then that they “had to eat” unleavened bread. As it was for the other 6 days. The daylight half of the 14th was the official time of getting rid of all leavening. And it should be considered that the “sop” was dipped into stew. And there is no evidence given as to what meat was in the stew. Beef, chicken, fish, etc. And as Jesus “broke” the bread to dip into the stew, it could simply have been a whole loaf of baked bread, and he tore off pieces. I’m not sure if that would have worked so well with non-leavened loaves. But each to their own. More major items are of greater concern on the menu. Editor’s Note: Though I do agree with the fact that all leavening had to be out of your house by the daytime part of the 14th, you need to keep in mind that days were reckoned from sunset to sunset. So, they wouldn’t be eating the Passover Lamb on the morning of the 15th of Nisan. For proof of this read; “Exo_34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left unto the morning.” Since the Passover meal could not be left over until morning, they would not be eating it in the morning part of the 15th. Also, since the wine represents Christ’s blood and they partook of the bread and the wine that night, the bread was probably unleavened. Laura Lee |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Was the Sop Leavened or Unleavened? (John 13:26-27) Article by John W. Ritenbaugh Comments by Ray Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) |
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| I don’t feel that whether the bread at the Passover meal was leavened or unleavened matters all that much. Only the fact that they could legally eat leavened bread for all 24 hours of the 14th. Though had to get rid of leaven by the end of the day. There is no mention that individuals couldn’t get rid of it sooner than the 14th. Editor’s Note: I would agree with the fact that leavened bread could be legally eaten on the 14th of Nissan. However, if you are doing the bread, the wine and foot washing together on the 14th as many people do, according to scripture you cannot eat leavened bread with the wine which represents the blood of Christ. Exo 34:25 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left unto the morning. Also, there is no command anywhere in scripture telling us to keep the Lord’s Super on the early part of the 14th. The Passover meal, bread, wine, and foot washing should all be done on the 15th after sunset as the day is starting. Laura Lee |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Was the Sop Leavened or Unleavened? (John 13:26-27) Article by John W. Ritenbaugh Comments by Ray Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) and Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| Ray Writes: Regarding your comments on the Passover meal. Which you mention on page 12. Consider these two comments you make. 1) There is no command anywhere in Scripture telling us to keep the Lord’s supper on the early part of the 14th.” I won’t quote the Scriptures, so as not to take up too much time and space. Laura Writes: Your source whether scripture or something else should always be quoted or stated as that is your proof. We need proof of what you say. Ray Writes: But when the Holy Days were spelled out in the book of the law of Moses, the first one mentioned is the Passover. Then the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Which began at sunset the 15th. Note that the “lamb” was chosen and penned up on the 10th. It was killed just before sunset of the 13th, and the blood painted onto the door frames. Then it was supposed to be “roasted slowly, without gutting it, or cutting it in any way. But the “roasting” was done during the daytime part of the 14th, and not eaten until the evening of the 15th. We know that it wasn’t eaten the evening of the 14th, because Jesus and his disciples ate a “stew”. And it doesn’t say what the meat was. Might have been fish. I’m not sure. Laura Writes: Your timelines are confusing and change from one of your writings to the next. For example, one time you will say the Passover Meal was eaten in the evening on the 15th and another time you will say it was eaten in the morning of the 15th. It is true the Passover lambs were chosen on the 10th, but they were slain on the daytime part of the 14th between the two evenings. When the sun starts to go down at noon, that is the first evening. The 2nd evening is at the actual sunset. The Passover lambs were generally slain about 3:00 PM on the 14th of Abib/Nisan. The Passover lambs were then roasted right after being slain and they were eaten after sunset on the 15th. The death angel passed over on the 15th around midnight. The first day of Unleavened Bread and the Passover are the same day. That is why the Days of Unleavened Bread are sometimes called Passover. See Luk_22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And where is your proof that Jesus and the disciples were eating stew? Ray Writes: But also note that the disciples asked Jesus where “he wanted to eat the Passover”. Again, what was it that they ate? (I won’t get into it, but the Jews of Jesus day had stopped eating or observing the Passover upon their return from Babylon. It’s a long story. And it involves the OT Immanuel, which the NT says was also Jesus, in a different body, born by a different virgin.) Laura Writes: The reason you get “Notes” in regard to a lot of stuff you write is because you send no “proof” for what you say and some of it is just plain untrue. There were not two different people called Jesus and there were not two different virgin births and if you believe there were where is your proof? Ray Writes: Back to their eating. In the book of the law, there is no command to “wash one’s feet” the evening of Passover. I mentioned this to you before. Jesus washed the apostles’ feet, which was a symbolic meaning that they too could now enter into the holy place. Just as Aaron and his sons had to do before they could enter. AND NOTE: Jesus was using the apostles to “replace the Aaronic priesthood, just as he had replaced Aaron. Or making a “new priesthood”. I’m not sure if you have considered that? For, it was just as the baptism of total immersion allowed those baptized to replace those Levites that worked within the open area before the Tent of Meeting. For, in sense, total immersion allows all to become a part of the priesthood. Just as all Israel was made a part of the priesthood when they were “baptized in the cloud and the water when they crossed the eastern arm of the Red Sea”. But they refused that duty, and that is why Levi’s sons were chosen to do the duties. Laura Writes: This happened the same night that Jesus introduced the new emblems for Passover, the night he was betrayed. So, it looks like a command to me. Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. Joh 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Just because I read or print what you say does not mean I believe it. There are some things I believe you could be right about, but you mostly offer no proof and then there are things which I definitely do not believe like the one about there being two different men called Jesus and two different virgin births. Ray Writes: Back to Jesus Passover. NOTE: After the meal and teaching, Jesus and the disciples left the room, and went out into a “park”? There at sunrise, the Pharisees took Jesus’ captive. And crucified him just prior to the “beginning of the 15th). I hope you will check this, for it is clearly spelled out in NT Gospel teachings. 1) They went into the house at sunset beginning the 14th. 2) They left the house around (?) midnight. 3) They stayed in the “park” (the disciples slept, and Jesus prayed) until it began to get light, and the “enemy” came. 4) Beginning around sunrise, the “court system” passed Jesus to the Gentile rulers to try him (it was illegal for the Pharisee’s to do so). 5) Jesus was crucified that afternoon, and was quickly taken down when dead, and put in a tomb “before sunset the 15th”. Laura Writes: I would agree with most of this last paragraph, but what I don’t understand is if you know that Jesus was crucified just prior to the beginning of the 15th and He was our Passover Lamb, why do you also believe the Passover Lambs (the sheep kind) were slain on the 13th? This is what I mean about you changing your timeline all the time. It gets confusing. Jesus was crucified between the two evenings on the daylight part of the 14th at the same time as the Passover lambs were killed. Jesus was our Passover Lamb. |
| Iron Sharpening Iron In regard to: Was the Sop Leavened or Unleavened? (John 13:26-27) Article by John W. Ritenbaugh Comments by Ray Daly (Lincoln, North Dakota) and Laura Lee (Bismarck, North Dakota) |
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| Ray writes: In response to your pointing out that (para.) “I sometimes said that the Passover meal was eaten on the 14th, AND on the 15th”. If you check you will see that the Passover meal was eaten on the evening of the 14th, and in the case of Jesus, the meal was a stew. But I also mention that the LAMB was not eaten until after sunset on the evening of the 15th. Thus, the reference to Passover related only to the Lamb. Laura writes: This is all mixed up if you are going to teach people anything you have to pick one and stick to it unless you find it is wrong. In the above paragraph you seem confused. By your own admission you have said the Passover meal was eaten on the 14th or on the 15th. Which is it? The lamb is the Passover meal and I see nothing that says Christ ate a stew. Where is that in scripture? Ray writes: It wouldn’t be of much use to mention that the washing of the feet, for those becoming believers was a “one time only” practice. For, it was this washing of the feet that was the same as the “second baptism”. Laura writes: What second baptism with water? Where is it in the Bible that foot washing is considered to be a second baptism? Where are you finding this? Ray writes: If you look it up in Strong’s, then you would find that “washing/baptizing” meant “the WHOLE or the PART of the body. Laura writes: And if you want to teach you should give your proof. Some words have many Strong’s numbers with different meanings, which Strong’s number do you want me to look up. Ray writes: Note that when Paul encountered the “brother” when coming to Ephesus, he had already been baptized (totally immersed) by Paul. But it says Paul “baptized him again”. What Paul did was to “baptize/immerse” his feet. This goes back to my explanation of total immersion allowing one to serve only in the outer court of the temple. But the washing of the total immersion of the feet allowed for entry into the outer room. Where the 7 churches are pictured. Laura writes: Paul in Ephesus Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve. Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. Act 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Act 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. This set of scripture is talking about baptism by immersion there is nothing in any of this about washing anyone’s feet. One baptism is by immersion, and one is by the Holy Spirit. There is no baptism of feet. Ray writes: When Jesus said to “do this in remembrance of me”, he was telling them to “wash the feet of new believers”, just as he had washed theirs. Only once. Laura writes: What Christ is saying is that if you do not wash one another’s feet, you are no part of Christ. Take it or leave it. It has nothing to do with new believers getting a onetime foot washing. Joh 13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Joh 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. If you do not start sending the proof of what you say such as scripture or what book you are getting your strange ideas from, we will stop printing most of what you send. Like the stew, where are you getting that from. If it is true, then you should be able to tell us where you are getting this idea from. I am not saying that everything you send here for print is wrong but some of it is just plain not true unless you can prove it via scripture or some other source. SEND PROOF FOR WHAT YOU SAY. |
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