Thursday, March 15, 2007

Justin on the Eucharist

After one of his rants on deceiving demons in chapter 64, in chapters 65-66 Justin describes the Christian eucharist. Some points:

(1) Justin does seem to see some relationship between works and salvation.
(2) The wine is mixed with water.
(3) Justin points again to receiving this teaching from the apostles.

One major question is what does Justin believe happens to the bread and the wine? What does he mean when he says "not as common bread and common drink do we receive these"? Although transubstantiation or consubstantiation fit this passage well, it is also possible, though less likely that he saw identifying the body and blood of Christ in the elements as an act of faith.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

what's the next ancient source going to be? Give a heads up and you may find a long lost friend (also non-premeir league theologian) and garden football pal from Sao Paulo reading along with you

Daniel Clark said...

Hello Anonymous (though I am almost 95% sure of your identity),

I am reading through P. Schaff's volume available at www.ccel.org (it's free...)

Next up is the second apology of Justin.

Andy said...

I'll join in the reading on and off, allowing my newly arrived daughter, Jemima, to dictate times. She was born on your birthday which got me thinking about tracking you down again.