Nearly 100 years ago exactly, the Lord’s church was divided when men began to introduce multiple cups into the Lord’s Supper. One of the leading innovators in the division that took place was G. C. Brewer who prided himself by recalling, “after a long struggle, I got the individual communion cup into that congregation.” (speaking of a congregation in Columbia, Tennessee).
As the struggle to keep individual cups out of the communion service reached its peak, J. D. Phillips wrote his famous tract, “The Cup of the Lord” defending the use of a single container in the Lord’s Supper. Brother Phillips’ tract has been reprinted on several occasions and still represents one of the finest works on the issue.
Shortly after “The Cup of the Lord” was published, G. C. Brewer reviewed it in three separate issues of the September 1st, 8th, and 15th issues of the Gospel Advocate in 1932. In January of 1933, Brother Phillips wrote began a six part reply to Brewer’s review that would be published over the course of that year in the Old Path’s Advocate.
Both G. C. Brewer’s review and J. D. Phillips’ reply have now been transcribed and published in a hardbound book along with the tract “The Cup of the Lord” and an additional article by Brother Ronny Wade. It is the hope of the publisher that much good will come from a careful consideration of this historic and spiritually significant material. To hear Brother Brewer (though dead yet still speaking) defend his innovation, and to read the reply given by one in his own day (to which he did not respond) is enlightening to say the least.
May brethren the world over study with open hearts this critical issue that still divides the Lord’s church far and wide. May brethren always speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. May God bless the brotherhood with peace and unity based on truth.
As the struggle to keep individual cups out of the communion service reached its peak, J. D. Phillips wrote his famous tract, “The Cup of the Lord” defending the use of a single container in the Lord’s Supper. Brother Phillips’ tract has been reprinted on several occasions and still represents one of the finest works on the issue.
Shortly after “The Cup of the Lord” was published, G. C. Brewer reviewed it in three separate issues of the September 1st, 8th, and 15th issues of the Gospel Advocate in 1932. In January of 1933, Brother Phillips wrote began a six part reply to Brewer’s review that would be published over the course of that year in the Old Path’s Advocate.
Both G. C. Brewer’s review and J. D. Phillips’ reply have now been transcribed and published in a hardbound book along with the tract “The Cup of the Lord” and an additional article by Brother Ronny Wade. It is the hope of the publisher that much good will come from a careful consideration of this historic and spiritually significant material. To hear Brother Brewer (though dead yet still speaking) defend his innovation, and to read the reply given by one in his own day (to which he did not respond) is enlightening to say the least.
May brethren the world over study with open hearts this critical issue that still divides the Lord’s church far and wide. May brethren always speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. May God bless the brotherhood with peace and unity based on truth.
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