Revision #14723
Love Feast
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
- The Korean term *aechan* (愛餐) means "meal of love." It renders the Greek *agapē* ("love"), and when the meal is observed as a formal rite it is also called a **love feast service** (*aechansik*). The term refers to a communal meal at which believers gather to share food and enjoy fellowship. It is distinct from the Lord's Supper, in which bread and wine commemorate the death of Christ. Korean Protestant denominations generally do not regard the love feast as a sacrament (a holy rite understood to have been instituted directly by Christ) but understand it as an occasion for fellowship.
+ The love feast is a communal meal at which believers gather to share food and enjoy fellowship. The name means "meal of love" and renders the Greek *agapē* ("love"). When it is observed as a formal rite, it is also called a **love feast service**. The love feast is distinct from the Lord's Supper, in which bread and wine commemorate the death of Christ. Korean Protestant denominations generally do not regard the love feast as a sacrament, a holy rite understood to have been instituted directly by Christ. They understand it instead as an occasion for fellowship.
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= ## Biblical and Historical Background
- In the New Testament, the term rendered "feasts of charity" (love feasts) appears in Jude 1:12. Believers in the early church were "breaking bread from house to house" and "did eat their meat with gladness" (Acts 2:46). The church at Corinth held a meal in conjunction with the Lord's Supper, and Paul rebuked the disorder in which some ate first while others went hungry (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).
+ In the New Testament, the term appears in Jude 1:12, where the King James Version renders it "feasts of charity." Believers in the early church were "breaking bread from house to house" and "did eat their meat with gladness" (Acts 2:46). The church at Corinth held a meal in conjunction with the Lord's Supper. Paul rebuked the disorder in which some ate first while others went hungry (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).
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- The love feast is also mentioned in the second-century writings of Ignatius and Tertullian. It appears to have been held together with the Lord's Supper at first but was gradually separated from it. By around the fourth century, some church councils had forbidden holding love feasts inside church buildings, and the practice is known to have gradually declined.
+ The second-century writings of Ignatius and Tertullian also mention the love feast. It appears to have been held together with the Lord's Supper at first and was gradually separated from it. By around the fourth century, some church councils had forbidden holding love feasts inside church buildings, and the practice is known to have gradually declined.
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- In the eighteenth century the Moravian Brethren revived the love feast. Influenced by them, John Wesley introduced it into the Methodist societies. At Methodist love feasts, participants shared bread and water and gave testimonies of their faith.
+ In the eighteenth century, the Moravian Brethren revived the love feast. Under their influence, John Wesley introduced it into the Methodist societies. At Methodist love feasts, participants shared bread and water and gave testimonies of their faith.
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= ## Practice in Korean Churches
- In Korean churches, *aechan* is used mainly for the meal that church members share after worship. Many churches call the Sunday lunch a love feast and refer to preparing it as "love feast ministry" (*aechan bongsa*).
+ In Korean Protestant churches, the term for love feast is used mainly for the meal that church members share after worship. Many churches call the Sunday lunch a love feast and refer to preparing it as "love feast ministry" (*aechan bongsa*).
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- Some churches also observe the love feast as a set rite. For example, they may hold a love feast service together with a foot-washing service on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week, or share a separate love feast after the Lord's Supper. Some Methodist churches, following the Wesleyan tradition, observe the love feast as a formal rite. Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches generally use the term in the sense of a fellowship meal rather than a set rite.
+ Some Korean churches also observe the love feast as a set rite. They may hold a love feast service together with a foot-washing service on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week, or they may share a separate love feast after the Lord's Supper. Some Korean Methodist churches follow the Wesleyan tradition and observe the love feast as a formal rite. Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches in Korea generally use the term for a fellowship meal rather than a set rite.
The love feast (Korean *aechan*, 愛餐) is a communal meal that believers in the early church shared as an expression of love and fellowship. It is distinct from the Lord's Supper, and in Korean churches the term usually refers to a meal that church members share after worship.
The love feast is a communal meal that believers in the early church shared as an expression of love and fellowship. It is distinct from the Lord's Supper. In Korean Protestant churches, the term usually refers to a meal that church members share after worship.
Full revision
The love feast is a communal meal that believers in the early church shared as an expression of love and fellowship. It is distinct from the Lord's Supper. In Korean Protestant churches, the term usually refers to a meal that church members share after worship.
Definition and Meaning
The love feast is a communal meal at which believers gather to share food and enjoy fellowship. The name means "meal of love" and renders the Greek agapē ("love"). When it is observed as a formal rite, it is also called a love feast service. The love feast is distinct from the Lord's Supper, in which bread and wine commemorate the death of Christ. Korean Protestant denominations generally do not regard the love feast as a sacrament, a holy rite understood to have been instituted directly by Christ. They understand it instead as an occasion for fellowship.
Biblical and Historical Background
In the New Testament, the term appears in Jude 1:12, where the King James Version renders it "feasts of charity." Believers in the early church were "breaking bread from house to house" and "did eat their meat with gladness" (Acts 2:46). The church at Corinth held a meal in conjunction with the Lord's Supper. Paul rebuked the disorder in which some ate first while others went hungry (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).
The second-century writings of Ignatius and Tertullian also mention the love feast. It appears to have been held together with the Lord's Supper at first and was gradually separated from it. By around the fourth century, some church councils had forbidden holding love feasts inside church buildings, and the practice is known to have gradually declined.
In the eighteenth century, the Moravian Brethren revived the love feast. Under their influence, John Wesley introduced it into the Methodist societies. At Methodist love feasts, participants shared bread and water and gave testimonies of their faith.
Practice in Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, the term for love feast is used mainly for the meal that church members share after worship. Many churches call the Sunday lunch a love feast and refer to preparing it as "love feast ministry" (aechan bongsa).
Some Korean churches also observe the love feast as a set rite. They may hold a love feast service together with a foot-washing service on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week, or they may share a separate love feast after the Lord's Supper. Some Korean Methodist churches follow the Wesleyan tradition and observe the love feast as a formal rite. Presbyterian, Holiness, Baptist, and Full Gospel churches in Korea generally use the term for a fellowship meal rather than a set rite.