ἀνάμνησις (anamnēsis)
anamnēsis
remembrance
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun anamnēsis refers to the act of remembering or bringing something into conscious awareness. In the New Testament, it appears in only four verses, primarily within the accounts of the Last Supper and Hebrews. Luke 22:19 and 1 Corinthians 11:24–25 use the phrase "do this in remembrance of me," establishing a ritual context where believers actively recall Jesus’ sacrifice.
This term carries more weight than simple mental recall; it implies a vivid, participatory recollection that makes the past event present to the community. The word is derived from the verb anamimnēskō, emphasizing the action of calling to mind. In Hebrews 10:3, it appears in the phrase "remembrance of sins," highlighting how the annual sacrifices served as a constant reminder of human failure rather than removing guilt.
Translators typically render anamnēsis as "remembrance" or "memorial." This choice reflects its liturgical function in early Christian worship, where the Eucharist was not merely a symbolic gesture but a profound act of communal memory. The sources note its connection to Old Testament concepts of memorial offerings, linking Christian practice to Jewish traditions of remembering God’s deeds.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anamnēsis points to more than just thinking back on past events. It describes a vivid, participatory act of remembering that brings a reality into the present moment. When Jesus instructed His followers to "do this in remembrance of me," He was establishing a practice where believers actively recall His sacrifice. This is not a passive mental exercise but a communal engagement with the truth of what Christ accomplished.
In our daily lives, we often forget the depth of God’s grace because routine dulls our senses. Anamnēsis invites us to pause and make that past event present to our hearts today. By participating in this remembrance, we acknowledge that Jesus’ body was given and His blood poured out specifically for us. It anchors our faith in a historical act that continues to sustain us spiritually.
This practice connects us to the early church’s understanding of worship as a living memory. Whether through sharing a meal or simply reflecting on the cross, we are reminded that our sins are covered by His covenant. It is a gift that keeps the hope of salvation fresh and real for every generation of believers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- remembrance.3×
- [there is] a reminder1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνάμνησιν.3×
- ἀνάμνησις1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:19
He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”
This verse establishes the foundational command for Christian worship, linking the physical act of breaking bread to the spiritual reality of Christ's body given for His people.
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I Corinthians 11:24
When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
Paul reiterates the instruction to make the memorial a regular practice, emphasizing that this remembrance is tied directly to the broken body offered on behalf of believers.
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I Corinthians 11:25
In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.”
The cup serves as a seal of the new covenant, showing that anamnēsis involves recalling the blood sacrifice that secures our relationship with God.
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Hebrews 10:3
But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
Here the term contrasts sharply with Christ's work, showing that Old Testament sacrifices only provided a yearly reminder of sin rather than removing it entirely.