Mondays are for Church History
12/9/24
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter VII. Public Worship and Religious Customs and Ceremonies." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2124-2268). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 74-101).
"§95. The Sacrament of the Eucharist." (pp. 2228-2238).
Schaff describes the Eucharist as "both a sacrament wherein God conveys to us a certain blessing, and a sacrifice which man offers to God" (Schaff 2014, p. 2229). He describes both of these aspects in turn prior to attending to the ritual development.
The disputes over the doctrine of the sacrament arose first in the ninth century, with Paschasius Radbertus. They have continued to this day. In Schaff's estimation, the controversy has continued due to the lack of an early Christian definitive statement as we have, for instance, in the areas of the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and an Augustinian view of soteriology (Schaff 2014, p. 2229). Schaff describes the controversy using intriguing language. "Christ may be conceived as really present either in and with the elements (consubstantiation, impanation), or under the illusive appearance of the changed elements (transubstantiation), or only dynamically and spiritually" (Schaff 2014, p. 2230). These views may have grown from earlier mystical, symbolic, or allegorical views of the sacrament. Schaff describes these views and their early proponents in turn. The various fathers make explanations, but there is no wide-ranging consensus.
Unfortunately, Schaff's description is lacking in examples of the period's developments. Rather, he dwells on views articulated in the fifth century and before. Additionally, he wrongly describes Lutheran thought as embracing consubstantiation (Schaff 2014, p. 2235).
Schaff notes that ancient liturgies "presuppose the actual presence of Christ in the Supper, but speak throughout in the stately language of sentiment, and nowhere attempt an explanation of the nature and mode of this presence, and of its relation to the still visible forms of bread and wine" (Schaff 2014, p. 2237). This is actually the stance which historic Lutheran piety has taken as well.
12/9/24
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter VII. Public Worship and Religious Customs and Ceremonies." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2124-2268). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 74-101).
"§95. The Sacrament of the Eucharist." (pp. 2228-2238).
Schaff describes the Eucharist as "both a sacrament wherein God conveys to us a certain blessing, and a sacrifice which man offers to God" (Schaff 2014, p. 2229). He describes both of these aspects in turn prior to attending to the ritual development.
The disputes over the doctrine of the sacrament arose first in the ninth century, with Paschasius Radbertus. They have continued to this day. In Schaff's estimation, the controversy has continued due to the lack of an early Christian definitive statement as we have, for instance, in the areas of the Trinity, the nature of Christ, and an Augustinian view of soteriology (Schaff 2014, p. 2229). Schaff describes the controversy using intriguing language. "Christ may be conceived as really present either in and with the elements (consubstantiation, impanation), or under the illusive appearance of the changed elements (transubstantiation), or only dynamically and spiritually" (Schaff 2014, p. 2230). These views may have grown from earlier mystical, symbolic, or allegorical views of the sacrament. Schaff describes these views and their early proponents in turn. The various fathers make explanations, but there is no wide-ranging consensus.
Unfortunately, Schaff's description is lacking in examples of the period's developments. Rather, he dwells on views articulated in the fifth century and before. Additionally, he wrongly describes Lutheran thought as embracing consubstantiation (Schaff 2014, p. 2235).
Schaff notes that ancient liturgies "presuppose the actual presence of Christ in the Supper, but speak throughout in the stately language of sentiment, and nowhere attempt an explanation of the nature and mode of this presence, and of its relation to the still visible forms of bread and wine" (Schaff 2014, p. 2237). This is actually the stance which historic Lutheran piety has taken as well.
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