4/18/18
Kolb, Robert. The Book of Concord: The Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.
Augsburg Confession XXII, “Concerning Both Kinds of the Sacrament” pp. 61-62.
Apology to the Augsburg Confession XXII, “Concerning Both Kinds in the Lord’s Supper” pp. 245-248.
In this portion of the Confession, Melanchthon details areas of doctrine where the Evangelicals had made corrections in practice. First, in communion, the laity, as well as priests, received both bread and wine rather than just bread (Kolb 2000, 61). This was the practice commanded by Jesus and carried on for many centuries. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession restates the fact that Christ’s command and the early church practice was to receive both bread and wine (Ibid., 245). Because we do not have permission to change Christ’s command we allow our practice to be governed by it. The writers of the Confutation made no explanation, simply rejecting the use of both elements (Ibid., 245). Melanchthon observes that this is an assertion, not a theological discussion.