Is intinction the correct way to do communion?

Answer

Intinction is the practice of receiving the Lord’s Supper by combining the two elements, bread and juice/wine. In many Eastern Orthodox traditions, this is done by mixing the bread and wine and then serving both on a spoon to each person. In Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions, intinction is typically done by dipping the bread into the wine and immediately consuming it. This practice is sometimes observed in Baptist, Congregational, non-denominational, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and some other Protestant churches. However, the majority of Protestant churches prefer to offer the bread and juice/wine separately.

The practice of intinction sparks controversy. Some argue that intinction does not fully comply with the command to “eat this bread and drink this cup” «For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. », (1 Corinthians 11:26), as it merges the two elements into one. While the Scripture mentions two separate actions (eating and drinking), intinction combines them into one. Some reference John 13:26 as a biblical example of intinction: “Dipping the piece of bread, [Jesus] gave it to Judas.” However, this verse is not a solid basis for a church sacrament; it specifies that Jesus dipped the bread into a dish (likely containing charoset), not a cup, and only Judas received it.

Supporters of intinction often argue that the symbolism of the wine-soaked bread helps in recalling the intense suffering Jesus endured. They also claim that intinction is more convenient as it eliminates the need to share a common cup or manage the cleaning and disposal of numerous individual cups. Historically, intinction has been linked to administering communion to the ill.

It is evident that

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the apostles the bread and wine separately, with individual instructions concerning each element. Churches that aim to adhere closely to Jesus’ example reject intinction and maintain communion as two distinct actions. While we should always be cautious about altering any biblical instruction, Scripture neither prohibits nor endorses intinction. The matter of precisely how to administer the Lord’s Supper is not one that should consume much of our time. What is more crucial is that we ascribe the proper significance and worth to the Supper itself, rather than the specific manner of its presentation.