If a body of Christians were trying to discern how often the Lord’s Supper should be observed and were therefore seeking guidance by examining evidence that might indicate what the normative practice was among the earliest Christians (as to how often communion ought to be taken), what would they find?
The N.T. Evidence
Acts 2:42: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
If the “breaking of bread” included the partaking of communion in the context of a meal, it appears that the Lord’s Supper was observed just as often as the other elements that are normally a part of a Lord’s Day gathering—such as having a time of teaching, fellowship, and prayer, etc.
Acts 20:7: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”
Notice that they came together to “break bread” (which I suggest included communion in the context of a meal) on the first day of the week when they also listened to Paul’s teaching.
1 Cor 11:17-22: “17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
This passage would seem to indicate that the church at Corinth was coming together in order to eat the Lord’s Supper—even though they were obviously abusing it. And we know that they at least came together on the first day of every week.
1 Cor 16:1-2: “1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
These instructions concerning the collection suggest that their coming together (which according to the passages given above included the Lord’s Supper or the “breaking of bread”) took place on the first day of the week.
So if we want to follow the example of the Christians in the Bible concerning the frequency with which we take communion—according to the evidence given above, it appears that we would be taking communion on a weekly basis on the first day of the week.
Two Examples of Non-Biblical Evidence from Early Primary Sources (Pre-Nicene Christian Writings)
The Didache[1] (also known as The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles; c. 95 A.D.): “But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned.” (ANF Vol. 7, p. 381)
This early document indicates that Christians were to come together on the first day of the week to break bread.
Justin Martyr [c. 150 A.D.]: “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.” (The First Apology of Justin; ANF Vol. 1, p. 186)
Here Justin records how Christians assembled on Sunday and partook of the Supper.
Evidence of a Consensus of Opinion from Religious Scholars—Regardless of Denomination
B. W. Johnson (Stone-Campbell), People’s New Testament: “…the early church writers from Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, to Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Cyprian, all with one consent, declare that the church observed the first day of the week. They are equally agreed that the Lord’s Supper was observed weekly, on the first day of the week.”
Augustus Neander (Lutheran), History of Christian Religion And Church, Vol. I, p. 332: “As we have already remarked, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper was still held to constitute an essential part of divine worship every Sunday, as appears from Justin Martyr (A.D. 150)…”
Thomas Scott (Presbyterian), Commentary on Acts 20:7: “This ordinance (the Lord’s Supper) seems to have been administered every Lord’s day; and probably no professed Christian absented themselves…”
A. C. Hervey (Episcopalian), Commentary on Acts 20:7: “This also is an important example of weekly communion as the practice of the first Christians.”
P. Doddridge (Congregationalist), Notes on Acts 20:7: “It is well known that the primitive Christians administered the Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper) every Lord’s day.”
Evidence from Reason
It is very common for Christians to assert that a weekly observance of communion would diminish the importance of the Supper. Therefore, they reason that we should take communion on a monthly, quarterly or even on an annual basis. But let us reason further: Does the frequent practice of assembling together as a church diminish its value and importance? Does the frequent practice of singing praises and offering prayers devalue their importance or their benefits? If we frequently listen to good Biblical preaching and teaching and frequently study God’s Word—does this decrease their significance to our lives?
[1] The Didache means “the Teaching.”