1 Corinthians

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NASB	1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
AMPLIFIED 2015	1 Corinthians 10:16 Is the cup of blessing which we bless [at the Lord's Supper] not a sharing in the blood of Christ? [Indeed it is.] Is the bread which we break not a sharing in the body of Christ? [Indeed it is.]

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Bible Question: How can the idea that the bread and cup are only symbolic be supported in light of this verse?

Bible Answer: I think that if you read this verse in context you will understand that it is indeed symbolic. By observing the Lord's supper, all christians everywhere are remembering and honoring the Lord for his sacrifice for us. In essence, this sharing of the bread and cup identify us with Christ.

In like manner the Israelites in the desert ate the same bread, and drank the same water which came from the rock, and this symbolized their unity as God's people. Surely you do not believe that the Rock from which the water flowed was literally Jesus Christ

1 Cor 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food;
1 Cor 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual
drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual
rock which followed them; and the rock was
Christ.

And when people partook of the sacrifices from the altar it symbolized their obedience and relationship to God. They did not literally eat the altar.

1 Cor 10:18 Look at the nation Israel; are not
those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the
altar?

The purpose of this passage is not to teach about the observance of the Lord's supper. The main point of this passage is to flee from idolatry. To not purposely partake of meats sacrificed to idols. If we do, then we are partaking of demons. Not literally, but symbolically identifying with demons.

1 Cor 10:19 What do I mean then? That a thing
sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an
idol is anything?
1 Cor 10:20 No, but I say that the things which
the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to
demons and not to God; and I do not want you to
become sharers in demons.
1 Cor 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the
Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake
of the table of the Lord and the table of
demons.