Eucharist the Thanksgiving meal

### Eucharist: The Thanksgiving Meal  

The word "Eucharist" originates from the Greek term *eucharistia* (2169), meaning "thanksgiving." Derived from *eucharistos*—"thankful," a compound of *eu* ("good, well") and *charis* ("grace, favor")—it emphasizes gratitude and grace as central elements of the practice. The Eucharist, understood as a communal act of thanksgiving, carries profound symbolic significance in the Valentinian tradition, where participation and unity among believers play pivotal roles.  

#### The Structure of the Valentinian Church  

Valentinian believers valued communal involvement in sacred acts. According to Tertullian, their gatherings embraced an egalitarian structure: "Today one man is bishop and tomorrow another; the person who is a deacon today, tomorrow is a reader; the one who is a priest is a layman tomorrow. For even on the laity they impose the functions of priesthood." (*Against the Valentinians*, 1). Women, too, could take on significant roles, including that of bishop, a practice that Tertullian viewed with dismay.  

This dynamic structure reflects the belief that every member, irrespective of their role, contributes to the community's spiritual life. The Eucharist was not a task reserved for a select few but an opportunity for all to participate, embodying the shared thanksgiving of the community.  

#### The Holy Person and Consecration  

The *Gospel of Philip* states:  

*"The holy person is completely holy, including the person’s body. The holy person who takes up bread consecrates it, and does the same with the cup or anything else the person takes up and consecrates. So how would the person not consecrate the body also?"*  

Here, consecration is not limited to clergy but extends to anyone who has achieved holiness and unity with the divine. The Valentinian perspective emphasizes that holiness permeates all aspects of life, enabling every believer to sanctify the elements of the Eucharist. The act of thanksgiving transforms the ordinary into the spiritual, symbolizing the presence of divine power among the participants rather than a literal transformation of the elements.  

#### Christ and Bread  

The *Gospel of Philip* also teaches:  

*"Before Christ came, there was no bread in the world, just as Paradise, the place where Adam was, had many trees to nourish the animals but no wheat to sustain man. Man used to feed like the animals, but when Christ came, the perfect man, he brought bread from heaven in order that man might be nourished with the food of man."*  

Bread symbolizes Christ's role as the "perfect man," who brings sustenance and spiritual nourishment to humanity. This bread is not merely physical but signifies the deeper, spiritual sustenance found in the Word.  

#### Symbols of Wine and Water  

The *Gospel of Philip* explains the symbolism of the cup:  

*"The cup of prayer contains wine and water, since it is appointed as the type of the blood for which thanks is given. And it is full of the Holy Spirit, and it belongs to the wholly perfect man. When we drink this, we shall receive for ourselves the perfect man. The living water is a body. It is necessary that we put on the living man."*  

Here, the wine and water represent the spiritual nourishment provided by the Holy Spirit and the Word. The cup is described as a "type," emphasizing its symbolic nature rather than a literal transformation. The Eucharist serves as a communal act of thanksgiving, a participation in divine grace, rather than a mystical change of elements.  

#### Flesh, Blood, and the Word  

Regarding Jesus' statement about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, the *Gospel of Philip* clarifies:  

*"His flesh is the word and his blood is the holy spirit. Whoever has received these has food, drink, and clothing."*  

This interpretation dismisses transubstantiation, viewing flesh and blood as symbols of the Word and the Holy Spirit, respectively. The focus remains on spiritual nourishment and the transformative power of divine wisdom.  

#### Joyful Thanksgiving  

The *Gospel of Philip* further explains:  

*"The master put it very well: ‘Some have gone into heaven’s kingdom laughing, and they have come out [laughing]… So it is also with bread, the cup, and oil, though there are mysteries higher than these.’"*  

This perspective highlights the joy and gratitude inherent in the Eucharist, symbolizing liberation and unity with the divine.  

#### Jesus and the Eucharist  

The *Gospel of Philip* connects the Eucharist to Jesus’ mission:  

*"The eucharist is Jesus. In Syriac it is called pharisatha, which means, ‘that which is spread out.’ For Jesus came to crucify the world."*  

The Eucharist signifies Jesus’ offering and the unity of believers with Him through thanksgiving.  

#### A Prayer of Thanksgiving  

The *Gospel of Philip* records this prayer:  

*"You who have united perfect light with holy spirit, unite the angels also with us, as images."*  

This prayer encapsulates the Eucharist’s purpose: to unite the community with divine light and spirit through thanksgiving.  

In Valentinian practice, the Eucharist transcends a mere ritual, becoming a shared act of gratitude, joy, and unity that connects believers with the divine.