Passion 7. INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARISTThe Nature of the Eucharist According to the Accounts of Its InstitutionChrist's institution of the Eucharist has been handed down to us in the so-called institution narratives, almostidentical (with minor variations) in the Synoptics. Very close to them is 1 Co 11:23-25, in which Paul recallsthe legacy received from the Lord. The Lukan text is the most extensive. Mt and Mk omit the interpretive re-lative clause at the bread-breaking, "which is given for you;' but Paul includes it. The blessing of the cup ismore variable in the 4 accounts: Lk and Paul appear to put special emphasis on the cup, the container of thewine, as a symbol of the new covenant, while Mk and Mt speak expressly of the "blood of the covenant,which is poured out for many".These four 'institution narratives' are not just stenographic reports of Jesus' words. At the time they werewritten (1 Co around the year 541), people had already been celebrating the Eucharist for a generation orlonger. Thus the accounts also give us a picture of the apostolic community Eucharist. However, they attemptto retain the tradition that has been handed down. They are convinced that they are following Jesus' institu-tion exactly, both in form and intention, even though they reflect a developed stage of the celebration, bywhich time the blessings of bread and cup had been placed more clearly in parallel. It is probable that ex-planatory, interpretive expressions had been introduced; these are not really new, but can be derived withoutforcing from Jesus' intention and proclamation: What is presumed there is stated more explicitly and de-veloped for our understanding.We can then speak of a 'theologizing' of the text, an explanatory interpretation of something the communityhad been doing for a long time: the celebration of the Lord's instruction and institution ("Do this") is olderthan its fusion with theological interpretation. Nevertheless, this interpretation also goes back to...