Agape Feast
ἀγάπη (agapē)
A communal love feast shared by early Christians alongside the Lord's Supper.
The Agape Feast was a shared meal in the early church that expressed Christian love and unity, often held in connection with the Lord's Supper, reflecting the community's care for one another.
"These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots." — Jude 1:12 (KJV)
Key Verses
Jude 1:12
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”Read in context
1 Corinthians 11:20-21
“When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.”Read in context
Acts 2:46
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.”Read in context
Strong's Concordance
Strong's G27 — Agape Feast (ἀγάπη (agapē))
Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where ἀγάπη (agapē) appears.
Open Strong's G27Etymology and Origin
The agape feast takes its name from agapē, the Greek word for selfless, unconditional love. These communal meals were central to early Christian worship, combining fellowship, sharing of food, and often the celebration of the Eucharist. They expressed the radical equality and mutual care of the new community.
Theological Significance
The agape feast embodied the ethics of the gospel: the wealthy ate alongside the poor, social barriers dissolved, and Christ's sacrificial love was made tangible. Paul's correction in 1 Corinthians 11 shows that when the feasts became occasions for selfishness and division, they contradicted their very purpose.
Practical Application
The agape feast challenges modern churches to recover the connection between worship and hospitality. Sharing meals together builds genuine community, crosses social divides, and makes the love of Christ visible. Many churches today are rediscovering this practice through community dinners and shared tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the agape feast in the early church?
The agape feast was a communal meal shared by early Christians that expressed love, unity, and mutual care, often held alongside or in connection with the Lord's Supper.
Is the agape feast the same as communion?
Originally they were connected, but over time the church separated the Eucharist (communion) from the communal meal. The agape feast was the shared dinner, while communion focused on the bread and wine.
Which Bible verse uses the word "Agape Feast"?
Jude 1:12 — "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots" (KJV). It also appears in 1 Corinthians 11:20-21, Acts 2:46.
Why does the Greek word behind "Agape Feast" matter?
The agape feast takes its name from agapē, the Greek word for selfless, unconditional love. English uses one word, "Agape Feast", where the Greek ἀγάπη (agapē) carries the fuller sense: a communal love feast shared by early christians alongside the lord's supper.
Related Words
Related Reading
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Agape Feast (ἀγάπη (agapē))
A communal love feast shared by early Christians alongside the Lord's Supper.
Strong's G27 — Agape Feast
ἀγάπη (agapē) • A communal love feast shared by early Christians alongside the Lord's Supper.
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