The Greek word anámnēsis, represented by G364, means recollection or remembrance. It is a specific term that appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, primarily in the context of recalling a significant event or truth.
The word G364 is most prominently used to establish the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. In both Luke and 1 Corinthians, Jesus commands his followers to partake in the bread and the cup "in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). This act is a deliberate recollection of His sacrificial death. A contrasting use appears in Hebrews, which states that the yearly sacrifices of the Old Covenant served as a "remembrance again made of sins," highlighting an ongoing reminder of debt rather than a finished work Hebrews 10:3.
Several related words help clarify the context of this remembrance:
- G4160 poiéō (to make or do): This word is the command tied to the act of remembrance. Believers are instructed to "do" this specific act of taking the bread and cup to remember Christ Luke 22:19.
- G2806 kláō (to break): This describes the physical action associated with the remembrance. Jesus took bread and "brake it," an action which is to be remembered as a symbol of His body broken for believers 1 Corinthians 11:24.
- G266 hamartía (a sin): This word is used in the contrasting context of remembrance. The old sacrifices brought a remembrance of sins every year, unlike the new remembrance of Christ's one-time sacrifice for sin Hebrews 10:3.
The theological weight of G364 is focused on the nature and purpose of remembrance in a believer's life.
- Ordinance of Christ: The term establishes a central Christian practice. The command "this do in remembrance of me" frames the Lord's Supper not as a re-sacrificing of Christ, but as a deliberate act of recollection and proclamation Luke 22:19.
- Remembrance of the New Covenant: The act of remembrance is explicitly tied to the "new testament" in Christ's blood. The cup serves as a reminder of this new covenant relationship with God 1 Corinthians 11:25.
- Contrast with Sin-Consciousness: The use in Hebrews 10:3 contrasts the new remembrance in Christ with the old remembrance of sins. The former brings believers to gratefully recall salvation, while the latter was a constant reminder of condemnation.
In summary, G364 is a pivotal term that defines a key Christian ordinance. It moves the concept of remembrance from a yearly reminder of ongoing sin to a continual, grateful recollection of Christ's finished work. Through the simple acts of eating bread and drinking from the cup, believers are called to remember the sacrifice that established the new covenant.
TRV