In the Bible, what is a 'love feast'?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

A love feast, as understood in biblical and historical contexts, was a communal gathering of early Christians where they shared a meal together in fellowship and mutual support. It was often associated with the celebration of the Lord's Supper, though the term "love feast" itself is explicitly mentioned only in Jude 1:12. Participants would bring food to share, those who had more contributing generously to provide for those in need. Love feasts reflected the early Christian community's commitment to unity and care for one another. The love feast symbolized Christ-like love and solidarity among believers, emphasizing communal sharing and the practice of hospitality as essential aspects of Christian living.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Love feasts are mentioned in the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Eating together is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:21 (as part of a rebuke to the believers in Corinth) and in 2 Peter 2:13 (as part of a rebuke to false teachers).
• In Jude 1:12, the meals are specifically called "love feasts"—again, the context is that of rebuking false teachers. The KJV says "feasts of charity" in Jude 1:12; the NLT has "fellowship meals;" most other translations put "love feasts."
• Interestingly, the actual term love feasts is absent from the original language of Jude 1:12. The word Jude uses is agapais, the plural of agape. The verse could be literally translated, "These are hidden reefs at your loves, as they feast with you without fear." The wording has led some to interpret Jude's words as a warning that false teachers are "feasting" on the church members, taking advantage of their acts of love without giving them anything in return. The traditional interpretation, however, associates the word feasting with loves—the false teachers attend the "love feasts" where they feast with (not on) the believers.
• The love feast seems to have been held in association with the Lord's Supper, according to 1 Corinthians 11 (although that passage never mentions "love feasts" by that name). Most likely, the love feast was a shared or communal meal somewhat like a potluck in present-day churches. Church members would bring food; the more affluent would bring a greater supply and in that way provided for the needy (see Acts 6:1).
• The body of Christ showed its love at the love feasts. At some point, as the church was gathered, they would observe the ordinance of Communion. The breaking of bread in Acts 20:7 could allude to a love feast (see also Acts 2:42), although Jude 1:12 is the only place in Scripture where a love feast is explicitly mentioned.
• Paul's rebuke of the love feasts of Corinth concerns the gluttony, drunkenness, and selfishness exhibited by some in the church: "For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?" (1 Corinthians 11:21–22). These were love feasts without love, and Paul says their holding of the feasts were "not for the better but for the worse" (1 Corinthians 11:17). Some in the Corinthian church were not sharing their food but enjoying their own private feasts while others had nothing to eat; some were even getting drunk. This bad behavior led Paul to say, "It is not the Lord's Supper that you eat" (1 Corinthians 11:20)—it was their own supper, and their gorging was dishonoring the Lord.
• Jude's and Peter's rebukes of the love feasts concern the church's foolish toleration of false teachers in their midst. "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves" (Jude 1:12). "They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you" (2 Peter 2:13). Calling their meals "love feasts" was no good as long as they allowed the feasts to be carnal revelries in which God's flock was being fleeced. Heretics should not be invited to fellowship with the church.
• The Lord's Supper is an opportunity to worship the Savior, remember His sacrifice, and "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). Some of the Corinthians were using the occasion of the Lord's Supper and the associated love feasts to satiate their fleshly desires, turning what was spiritual and holy into something carnal and corrupt. The aim of agape love is to benefit others; the misbehavior at the early church's love feasts worked strongly against that purpose.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The concept of a love feast encourages us to live in community with a spirit of genuine love and mutual support. In the early church, these gatherings were not just about sharing a meal but about demonstrating Christ-like love through fellowship and caring for one another's needs. Today, a love feast serves as a reminder to prioritize community over individual desires, to share generously, and to cultivate an environment where everyone feels valued and cared for. By embracing the principles of selflessness and unity exemplified in the love feast, we can foster stronger relationships within our church communities, reflecting Christ's love in tangible ways and glorifying Him through our actions.

UNDERSTAND

• A love feast was a communal gathering of early Christians where they shared a meal together in fellowship and unity.
• Often associated with the Lord's Supper, participants brought food to share at a love feast.
• Love feasts served both as a spiritual practice to commemorate Christ's sacrifice and as a social practice to foster community bonding and mutual aid among believers.

REFLECT

• How does the concept of a love feast encourage you to be more hospitable and build community?
• When has sharing a meal with others deepened your sense of belonging and unity with fellow believers or friends?
• How can we incorporate the principles of selflessness and unity exemplified in love feasts into our daily lives and interactions?

ENGAGE

• Around AD 90 Pliny the Younger in To Trajan, Book 10, Letter 97 notes that the love feast was common among Christians in Rome. Ignatius of Antioch (a disciple of John's), around the same time period, mentions the love feast in his letter to the Smyrnaeans.
• Today, Moravian churches as well as some other churches practice special times of food and fellowship that they call love feasts. The custom, which began in 1727, is distinct from Communion. The Moravian love feast includes prayer, hymn-singing, and the sharing of food—usually a slightly sweet bun served with coffee, tea, or lemonade. People of all denominations are welcome to attend Moravian love feasts, the emphasis being on the lordship of Christ and the fellowship of all believers.
• Discuss some practical ways we can ensure that our communal gatherings, such as potlucks or church dinners, reflect Christ-like love and mutual support, rather than becoming opportunities for self-indulgence, emptiness, or exclusivity?