I hope this makes sense to my CH602 students
Lord’s Supper
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; pt 1)
Given some of the discussions that have taken place recently on the HB on the topic of the Lord’s Supper I thought it would be helpful to post Calvin’s Short Treatise (Petit traicté de la saincte cène; 1541) in a series of . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 2)
Part one. 7. The Means of Knowing the Great Benefit of the Supper It is now time to come to the second point, viz., to show how the Lord’s Supper is profitable to us, provided we use it profitably. Now we shall know its . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 3)
Part 2 14. Of the Imperfection and Perfection of Believers Now, although being called to do good works, we produce the fruits of our calling, ask it is said, (<420175>Luke 1:75,) that we have been redeemed in order to serve God in . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 4)
Part 3. 21.The Manner of Examining Ourselves Here it is necessary to be well on our guard. For as we cannot be too diligent in examining ourselves as the Lord enjoins, so, on the other hand, sophistical doctors have brought poor consciences . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 5)
Part 4 28. The Imperfections of Believers Should Rather Incline Them To Use the Supper When we feel within ourselves a strong dislike and hatred of all sin, proceeding from the fear of God, and a desire to live well in order . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 6)
Part 5 33. Fourth General Division—Errors on the Supper We come to the fourth principal point. The devil knowing that our Lord has left nothing to his Church more useful than the holy sacrament, has after his usual manner labored from the . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 7)
41. False Opinion of the Bodily Presence of Christ in the Supper Out of this fantasy several other follies have sprung. Would to God they were only follies, and not gross abominations. They have imagined I know not what local presence and . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 8)
Part 7 49. The Ceremonies of the Ancient Law, Why Appointed—Those of the Papists Censurable It is true, indeed, that the sacrifices under the O1d Testament were performed with many ornaments and ceremonies, but because there was a good meaning under them, . . . Continue reading →
Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lord’s Supper (1541; Pt 9)
Part 8 53. Last Division—Recent Disputes on the Supper To have done, it is necessary to come to the last principal point, viz., the contention which has arisen in our time in regard to this matter. Now, as it is an unhappy . . . Continue reading →
Fed By Christ or the Person Next to Me?
One of the recurring questions I get is about the meaning of “body” in 1 Corinthians 11:28. The question is whether “discerning the body” in Paul’s narrative refers to “being cognizant of the congregation” or to Christ’s physical, actual body and blood, . . . Continue reading →
Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism
A belated Happy Birthday to the Heidelberg Catechism. On 19 January 1563 (Julian Calendar) the first edition of the catechism was adopted by the Palatinate Church. Though earlier scholarship thought and wrote about the catechism as if it were the product of . . . Continue reading →
Recovering the Reformed Practice of Communion
Interesting stuff from Gregory Baus at Honest to Blog.
Guy De Bres on Reformed Agreement with the Lutherans
This document is entitled, “Concord between the Doctors of Wittenberg and the Doctors of the Imperial Cities in Greater Germany.” My above-mentioned lord has commanded me to write to you, so that you would think carefully about this — because we want . . . Continue reading →
Bullinger on Communion in Two Kinds
THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER WITH BOTH BREAD AND WINE. We think that rite, manner, or form of the Supper to be the most simple and excellent which comes nearest to the first institution of the Lord and to the apostles’ doctrine. . . . Continue reading →
From The Eleven Articles Of 1559 On The Lord’s Supper
IX. Moreover, I do not only acknowledge, that private masses were never used amongst the fathers of the primitive church, I mean, public ministration and receiving of the sacrament by the priest alone, without a just number of communicants, according to Christ’s . . . Continue reading →
Calvin On The Proper Practice Of The Lord’s Supper
43. But as for the outward ceremony of the action — whether or not the believers take it in their hands, or divide it among themselves, or severally eat what has been given to each; whether they hand the cup back to . . . Continue reading →
Resources On Fencing The Lord’s Table
Some HB readers have been discussing the question of fencing the Lord’s Table. Fencing is a figurative way of speaking. There aren’t literal fences in Reformed Churches. It’s a way to describe the Reformed attempt to apply Paul’s instruction in 1Corinthians 11:27–32. . . . Continue reading →
Where We Agree With The Eastern Orthodox Against Mere Memorialism
One difference between Presbyterian/Reformed Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians concerns how we understand the elements. Eastern Orthodox Christians think that the bread and the wine function much like icons do in Orthodox worship, as signs that give access to what is signified, . . . Continue reading →
A Minister Not A Priest
This truth is deeply reflected in historic Reformed practices regarding the observance of the Lord’s Supper. For instance, the truth of Jesus’ sole mediation is one reason the Presbyterian ministers stand behind the communion table (and not in front of it) when . . . Continue reading →