Garry Wills Talks Priesthood, Transubstantiation, and Hebrews

(HT: Jordan Huff).

It’s not often that one sees discussion of transubstantiation on Comedy Central or anywhere else for that matter (except perhaps EWTN). It’s interesting that Wills, a Roman Catholic, seems to feel no reluctance to attack Romanist dogma. It reminds one that, in the final analysis, only one thing is necessary to be a Romanist: to submit (formally) to the Bishop of Rome. Darryl Hart comments on this at Oldlife.

Their discussion of Hebrews is interesting but completely confused. For a superior introduction to Hebrews start with this episode of Office Hours.

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  • R. Scott Clark
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    R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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4 comments

  1. I forgot to mention, 3 more things:

    1. This is part of the reason Protestants should be adamant on educating their children, particularly as it pertains to the Scriptures, theology, and church history.

    2. Correct if wrong, but didn’t Rome claim (in the Council of Trent?) that Hebrews was written by Paul in an official document, but now doesn’t make the same claim?

    3. Rome claims to have given us the Bible, but when exactly was the canon dogmatically defined by Rome? Was it in April of 1546? This is related to the “White question” that some Romanists apologists are aware of due to James White.

    • The White question being, “How did a first century B.C. Jew know that Habakkuk and Chronicles were Scripture?” They had no infallible magisterium to define the canon, i.e. there is an intuitive, communal (albeit hierarchical) recognition of Scripture as θεόπνευστος.

      I was on the exercise bike happening to be watching Colbert when this came on. I was laughing and grimacing at the same time, thinking – there really are two Romanists on a comedy show right now arguing about transubstantiation – so much for a unity among the Roman “Catholic” Church.

  2. Wow, I am assuming Rome is to theoretically excommunicate this man; if they should and don’t, then this is just another example of why there is no reason to be a Roman Catholic. Assuming Rome is the true church, as she claims, then it is better for me to remain in my ignorance outside of it than within and criticizing it.

    I hope all apostates take notice of this and realize that perhaps that certainty and history they were looking for is only a dream. Rome seems to be a church without discipline bringing men without repentance into an institution without law, and all while offering empty sacraments.

    • that certainty and history they were looking for is only a dream. Rome seems to be a church without discipline bringing men without repentance into an institution without law, and all while offering empty sacraments.

      Well said Alberto, well said.

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