When Did Jesus Drink the Fourth Cup of the Passover Meal? Scott Hahn’s Hypothesis and a Proposal for a Different Interpretation

Abstract

The article begins with the presentation of the content of the book by Scott Hahn entitled The Fourth Cup. Unveiling the Mystery of the Last Supper and the Cross. Then the author of the article outlines the shape of the ritual Passover meal, assuming that the sacrament of the Eucharist was instituted by Jesus during a meal similar to a Passover feast. Having delineated the context, he presents Scott Hahn’s hypothesis which identifies the fact of accepting by Jesus the drink of sour wine or vinegar right before his death with drinking the fourth cup of the Passover feast. The hypothesis has been critically analyzed and an alternative hypothesis has been proposed, according to which Jesus drinks the fourth cup of the Last Supper in the eschatological kingdom of God.