Plain-language reading guide
READING HELP
Read this chapter alongside the Confession chapter on the same subject. The Testimony states what the church teaches, applies that teaching, and identifies views it rejects. Read each statement with its Scripture proofs and the surrounding paragraphs.
To find explicit rejections in this chapter, go to point 6, point 7. Read each full point to see exactly which teaching is rejected.
This reading guide is separate from the official text below.
Read the official text, or choose a simpler explanation to explore together.
Westminster Confession
1. Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein He was betrayed, instituted the sacrament of His body and blood, called the Lord’s Supper, to be observed in His Church, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in His death; the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in Him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto Him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with Him, and with each other, as members of His mystical body.
Scripture proofs: 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Cor. 10:16-17, 21; 1 Cor. 12:13.
2. In this sacrament, Christ is not offered up to His Father; nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the quick or dead; but only a commemoration of that one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all: and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same: so that the Popish sacrifice of the mass (as they call it) is most abominably injurious to Christ’s one, only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of His elect.
Scripture proofs: Heb. 9:22, 25-26, 28; 1 Cor. 11:24-26; Matt. 26:26-27; Heb. 7:23-24, 27; Heb. 10:11-12, 14, 18.
3. The Lord Jesus, hath, in this ordinance, appointed His ministers to declare His word of institution to the people; to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use; and to take and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communicating also themselves) to give both to the communicants; but to none who are not then present in the congregation.
Scripture proofs: Matt. 26:26-28, and Mark 14:22-24, and Luke 22:19-20 with 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:20.
4. Private masses, or receiving this sacrament by a priest or any other alone; as likewise, the denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up or carrying them about for adoration, and the reserving them for any pretended religious use; are all contrary to the nature of this sacrament, and to the institution of Christ.
Scripture proofs: 1 Cor. 10:16; Mark 14:23; 1 Cor. 11: 25-29; Matt. 15:9.
5. The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to Him crucified, as that, truly, yet sacramentally only, they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ; albeit in substance and nature they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
Scripture proofs: Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:26-28; Matt. 26:29.
6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason; overthroweth the nature of the sacrament, and hath been, and is the cause of manifold superstitions; yea, of gross idolatries.
Scripture proofs: Acts 3:21 with 1 Cor. 11:24-26; Luke 24:6, 39.
7. Worthy receivers outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this sacrament, do then also, inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of His death: the body and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
Scripture proofs: 1 Cor. 11:28; 1 Cor. 10:16.
8. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament: yet they receive not the thing signified thereby, but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord to their own damnation. Wherefore, all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Him, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table; and cannot, without great sin against Christ while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto.
Scripture proofs: 1 Cor. 11:27-29; 2 Cor. 6:14-16; 1 Cor. 5:6-7, 13; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; Matt. 7:6.
Words to know
- Lord’s Supper
- The sacrament of bread and wine that remembers Christ’s sacrifice and spiritually nourishes believers in fellowship with him.
- Transubstantiation
- The claim that bread and wine change in substance into Christ’s body and blood, which the Confession rejects.
WCF 29.1 · A meal Christ gave his church
Jesus appointed the Lord’s Supper on the night he was betrayed. The church keeps it until the world’s end to remember his sacrifice, confirm its benefits to believers, nourish their faith, and strengthen obedience. It also expresses fellowship with Christ and with one another. It is a covenant meal for his people.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 12:13.
What should the Supper help believers remember and receive?
WCF 29.2 · One sacrifice, never repeated
The Lord’s Supper does not offer Jesus as a new sacrifice or pay again for the sins of living or dead people. It remembers his once-for-all offering and responds with praise. The Confession rejects treating the mass as a sacrifice for sin because Christ’s one sacrifice fully satisfies God’s justice for his chosen people.
Hebrews 9:22; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Matthew 26:26-27.
Why does remembering the cross not mean repeating it?
WCF 29.3 · Receive bread and wine together
Ministers should explain Christ’s words, pray, set apart bread and wine for this holy use, break the bread, and give both bread and cup to those receiving, while participating themselves. The elements are given to people present in the congregation. This is a shared church act, not a private invention.
Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20.
Why should the Supper include both the bread and the cup?
WCF 29.4 · Follow Christ’s purpose
Receiving communion alone, withholding the cup from the people, worshipping the bread and wine, or keeping and displaying them as objects of devotion contradicts Christ’s institution. The elements are given for the congregation to receive as he commanded. We worship Christ, not the material signs.
1 Corinthians 10:16; Mark 14:23; 1 Corinthians 11:25-29.
Why should we worship Christ rather than the bread and wine?
WCF 29.5 · Bread and wine remain bread and wine
The bread and wine are set apart to represent Christ crucified. Because of that sacramental relationship, they can be called his body and blood. Yet their substance does not change: they remain bread and wine. Their meaning is holy without turning them into different materials.
Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28; Matthew 26:29.
How can bread have a holy meaning while remaining bread?
WCF 29.6 · What transubstantiation claims
Transubstantiation is the teaching that the substance of bread and wine changes into Christ’s body and blood. The Confession rejects it as contrary to Scripture and reason, destructive of the sacrament’s nature, and a source of superstition and idolatry. The signs should direct faith toward Christ rather than become objects of worship.
Acts 3:21; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26; Luke 24:6.
What does this teaching claim changes, and why does the Confession reject it?
WCF 29.7 · Real spiritual nourishment
Believers receiving rightly take bread and wine outwardly and truly receive Christ and his saving benefits inwardly by faith. This is a real spiritual feeding, not bodily eating of Jesus. His body is not physically in, with, or under the elements. By the Spirit, Christ is truly present to believers’ faith as they receive.
1 Corinthians 11:28; 1 Corinthians 10:16.
How is real spiritual nourishment different from physically eating Christ’s body?
WCF 29.8 · Receive with understanding and faith
A person may eat the bread and drink the wine without receiving the saving reality they represent. Coming in ignorance or persistent ungodliness is a serious sin against Christ. Such people should not receive or be admitted while they remain in that condition. The Supper calls for understanding, faith, and repentance, not merely joining a meal.
1 Corinthians 11:27-29; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; 1 Corinthians 5:6-7.
Why should we prepare our hearts rather than receive casually?
1. The Lord’s Supper is to be repeatedly administered to a Christian congregation, at such times as the session deems advisable, according to the needs of the congregation. Observance of this sacrament is a corporate and personal profession of continued adherence to the covenant bond entered into at baptism. 1 Cor. 11:23-26.
2. When a congregation is observing the Lord’s Supper, worship services in which this sacrament is observed may be held for the sick and invalid who are of sound mind in the presence of members of the session and congregation. There is no instance in Scripture of private communion. 1 Cor. 11:33; Acts 20:7.
3. The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is not to be exalted above the regular preaching of the Word.
4. Previous preparation, by self-examination, repentance of sin, meditation upon God’s grace, and resolution of new obedience is required of those who make this profession of their union with Christ and love to Him. 1 Cor. 11:27-32; 1 Cor. 10:21-22.
5. The Lord’s Supper is to be administered only to those who are accepted by the session dispensing the sacrament.
6. We deny that the individual is sole judge of his fitness to partake of the sacrament. 1 Cor. 5:1-13.
7. We reject the practice of offering the sacrament of Communion to any one who is not a member of the visible church.
Words to know
- Lord’s Supper
- The sacrament of bread and wine that remembers Christ’s sacrifice and spiritually nourishes believers in fellowship with him.
- Transubstantiation
- The claim that bread and wine change in substance into Christ’s body and blood, which the Confession rejects.
- Covenant
- A relationship God establishes with promises and responsibilities.
- Rejects
- Says that a teaching is wrong and must not be accepted.
- Communion
- Sharing in the Lord’s Supper; the word can also mean fellowship with Christ and his people.
Testimony 29.1
The church should celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly, at times chosen by its elders. In it, believers and the congregation renew their confession of the covenant relationship marked by baptism.
Read original point 1 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.2
Sick or housebound believers may receive the Supper in a worship service with elders and congregation members present. The Testimony finds no biblical basis for private communion.
Read original point 2 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.3
The Lord’s Supper should not be treated as more important than the regular preaching of Scripture.
Read original point 3 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.4
Those coming to the Supper should examine themselves, repent, reflect on God’s grace, and resolve to obey him.
Read original point 4 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.5
The elders administering the Supper are responsible for accepting those who may participate.
Read original point 5 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.6
The Testimony rejects making an individual’s own judgment the only authority on whether they should receive communion. The church also has oversight.
Read original point 6 and its Scripture proofs →Testimony 29.7
The Testimony rejects admitting someone to communion who is not a member of the visible church.
Read original point 7 and its Scripture proofs →Source: The Constitution of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, updated 2026, A-97, A-98, A-99.