Often Catholics talk about the “Eucharist,” but is that word even in the Bible?
While Bibles in the English language do not contain the word “eucharist,” it is featured in the original Greek version of the New Testament.
In the original Greek version of the Gospels, Jesus is recorded a version of the word while celebrating the Last Supper.
Take this, and divide it among yourselves … And he took bread, and when he had given thanks [εὐχαριστήσας – eucharistēsas] he broke it and gave it to them.
Luke 22:18-19
Essentially, the word “eucharist” means “giving thanks,” but in an early Christian context, it quickly became associated with the celebration of the Eucharist, more commonly known as the Mass.
There is even an ancient document called the Didache that possibly dates to the time of the apostles and uses this word in this context, “Celebrate the Eucharist as follows: Say over the cup: ‘we give you thanks.'”
While the word “eucharist” may not be in English Bibles, it is found in the original Greek versions of the New Testament.