QUESTION:
Does the cup (container) by itself have any 
significance in the Lords Supper?   

ANSWER:
The cup of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 11:27, is not an empty cup by itself, nor is it 
the fruit of the vine by itself. The cup of the Lord is a cup containing fruit of 
the vine for which thanks has been offered. The literal cup by itself signifies 
nothing, but when containing fruit of the vine, it represents the new covenant 
according to Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 11:25 "In the same manner he took the cup after 
supper, saying This cup is the new covenant in my blood. This do as often as you 
drink it in remembrance of me." Since the cup Jesus took contained the fruit of the 
vine, whatever he said about the cup must take that into account.

J.H. Thayer on page 15 says "This cup containing wine, an emblem of blood, is 
rendered by the shedding of my blood an emblem of the New Covenant." Hence the cup 
containing wine is an emblem of the New Covenant. In 1931 Brother J. D. Phillips 
contacted several Greek scholars of the day asking them about Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 
11:25, following you will find their replies: "Poteerion (cup) occurs twice in the 
passages from Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 11:25. The first time it is apparently the 
literal cup; the second time it is apparently the cup with its contents." Walter 
Miller, College of Arts and Science, University of Missouri. F.R. Gay of Bethany 
College "This cup (that is the cup and its contents) represents the New Covenant 
(and testament: both ideas are included) which is ratified by my sacrificial 
death." Neander says in Lange "The cup, then, with the wine it contains, symbolizes 
the New Covenant, and this covenant is established in the blood of Christ, which 
wine poured into the cup. . . sets forth as shed for the expiation of sinful men 
and to be appropriated by those who drink of the cup."

Three things are mentioned by the Lord, and three things are symbolized:

The bread symbolizes or represents His body.

The fruit of the vine symbolizes or represents His blood.

The cup containing fruit of the vine symbolizes or represents the New Covenant.

In giving thanks, we must be careful not to say or imply what the scriptures do 
not. It is a mistake to separate the cup and its contents in our prayer of 
thanksgiving. Christ did not say or teach that the cup by itself represents the New 
Testament and the content of it represents His blood. Yet I hear some saying that 
today. We should say exactly what He said i.e. 'We thank thee for this cup which is 
the New Testament in thy blood." Or what Paul said in 1 Cor. 10:16 "The cup of 
blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread 
which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Brethren you cannot 
improve on what the bible says. Why try?