SUPERSCRIPTION
SUPREMACY
683
natural law were broken or siirtpended by some intrusive and alien force ; but in the fact that the action of God upon the order of created being is in one case what we expect, in the other widely different. Tiiere is no reason why the word ' sujjer- natural,' which will certainly not be driven out of our vocabulary, should not be used as a label for certain (characteristic groups of actions and events. It appears necessary to vindicate the freedom of God to take such action : otherwise we subject Him to the tyranny of His own laws. But there is no reason to associate the word ^vith a variety of half - conscious dualistie assumptions, which cannot be defended in theory. See also art. Miracles. Thomas B. IStkong.
SUPERSCRIPTION.— See Title on Cross.
SUPPER (SerTT^ov).— The term applied in the time of Christ to the principal meal usually par- taken of in the evening, and also to moi-e elabor- ate collations for the entertainment of guests {weddings, birthdays, arrival and dejjarture of friends or distinguished persons, sheep-shearing, completion of wine-making, funerals, etc.). In- vitations were conveyed by slaves (Mt 22^'''-). Guests were welcomed by the host with a kiss (Lk 1'^) ; their feet were washed by slaves (7'*'') ; their hair, beards, and sometimes their clothes and feet were anointed with perfumed oil (Lk 7^, Jn 12^) ; and garlands of Howers were sometimes provided for the decoration of their heads (Wis 2'^^- ; Jos. Ant. XIX. ix. 1). On formal occasions tlie guests were arranged at the table by the master of the feast (apxi-TpiKXivoi), usually a friend of the family, according to his conception of tlieir relative social rank, nearness to the host being the mark of honour. Guests commonly reclined on benches {sometimes elaborate and luxurious), three or five to the bench, the feet of each extending behind, and the back of the head of each reaching to the bosom of his neighbour on the left (Jn 13'-^ 2P"). The tables were usually three in number, arranged to form three sides or a square. The guests re- clined upon the outside, and the servants ministered from the inside. The left elbow was used for support, while the right hand and arm were free for conveying food. A somewhat formal giving of thanks preceded each meal (evXoyia, evxapi-irTia). This practice was carefully observed by Jesus and His disciples (Mt 14'^ 153''-2626^ Lk 9'«, Jn 6"). At suppers of the more formal or festive type the host served the guests with equal portions as far as was practicable, where no special honour was to be done to special guests. In the latter case, a double, triple, or even quintuple, or a particularly choice portion Avas bestowed upon the guest of honour. At less formal suppers the food was cut into small pieces and put into large dishes, from which the guests took them with their fingers and conveyed them to flat cakes of bi'ead which served as plates, where they pulled them to pieces before conveying them to their n\ouths. Pieces of tiie bread were used as spoons for dipping gravy from the common (lisli. Individual knives, forks, and spoons were not used even by the wealthy until long after NT times. The practice of hand-Avashing immediately before the meal luid thus its special appropriate- ness. Wlien women were admitted to supjjers of the more formal kind (which was probably unusual), tliey seem to have sat rather than reclined. Wine was drunk during tlie meal and after the eating (Mishna, Bi'ralhoth vi. 5f., cf. viii. 8). Thanks- giving and hand-washing closed the meal.
The ordinary suppers of the well-to-do classes were far less formal. The suppers of tlie {)Oor were no doubt partaken of without tables or seats, the family sitting, or squatting on the ground, around
a skin or mat, and partaking of the plain food (flesh being rarely used) out of connnon vessels with the fingers. See also artt. Food, Meals, and Last Supper.
Literature.— Artt. in the Bible Dictionaries of Smith, Kitto Hastings, Schenkel, Riehm, the EBi, Winer's RWB, Herzog- Hauck, PRE'i; VVetzer u. Welte, Kirchen-Lexikon; Lightfoot, Uor. Ileb. ; E. Rol)iiison, BRP ; Buxtorf, de Cmiviviia Ebrce- orum ; and Ugolini's Thesaurun, vol. xxx.
Albert Henry Newman. SUPREMACY.— Few things are more remarkable in the Gospels than the absolute supremacy over nature and man which Christ is represented as both claiming and exercising. In this respect the Syn- optics bear, if anything, a more striking witness than the Fourth Gospel. Christ appears from first to last as exercising lordship over matter and natural forces. He heals incurable diseases, stills the storm by a word, multiplies food, withers the barren fig-tree. And, beyond these things. He ap-
S;ars also as supi'eme over the world of S2:)irits. e calls back the human soul to the body after they have been separated by death. He is acknow- ledged as lord by the unwilling and undesired testimony of the demons (Mk 1**, Lk 433-35 etc.). Such a supremacy He appears, in the Gospel narra- tive, to exert without laying any special claim upon it. He accepts, indeed, with praise the con- fes.sion of the centurion (Mt 8^'^^), that such author- ity belongs naturally to Him ; yet He does not represent these wonders as being the chief purpose of His ministry. He appeals at times to their evidence ; but His most characteristic claim is something even greater and more fundamental.