Theological Term of the Week

transubstantiation
The Roman Catholic teaching that in the Eucharist the physical elements of bread and wine materially change into the body and blood of Christ, although the accidents of the bread and wine (their appearance, taste and smell, for instance), remain unchanged.

• Scripture used to defend the doctrine of transubstantiation:

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (John 6:52-53 ESV)

• From Fundamentals of Catholic Doctrine by Ludwig Ott:

Christ becomes present in the Sacrament of the Altar by the transformation of the whole substance of the bread into His Body and of the whole substance of the wine into His Blood.

•  From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof:

The supposed Scriptural ground for [transubstantiation] is found in the words of the institution, “this is my body”, and in John 6:50 ff. But the former passage is clearly tropical2, like those in John 14:6; 15:1, 10:9 and others; and the later, literally understood, would teach more than the Roman Catholic himself would be ready to grant, namely that every one who eats the Lord’ Supper goes to heaven, while no one who fails to eat it will obtain eternal life (cf. verses 53,54). Moreover, verse 63 clearly points to a spiritual interpretation. Furthermore, it is quite impossible to conceive of the bread which Jesus broke as being the body which was handling it; and it should be noted that Scripture calls it bread even after it is supposed to have been transubstantiated, I Cor. 10:17; 11:26,27,28. This view of Rome also violates the human senses, where it asks us to believe that what tastes and looks like bread and wine, is really flesh and blood; and human reason, where it requires belief in the separation of a substance and its properties and in the presence of a material body in several places at the same time, both of which are contrary to reason. Consequently, the elevation and adoration of the host is also without any proper foundation. 

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Transubstantiation
2. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: Transubstantiation and the Lord’s Presence
3. James White: The of the Development of the Concept of Transubstantiation

Related terms:

• Lord’s Supper

Filed under Isms

1From The Christian Faith by Michael Horton.

2figurative

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Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

Theological Term of the Week

atheism
The belief that there is no god, or the lack of belief in a god.

• Scripture applicable to atheism:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:18-21 ESV).

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,

there is none who does good. (Psalm 14:1 ESV)

• From the Belgic Confession:

Article 2: The Means by Which We Know God

• We know him by two means:

  First, by the creation, preservation, and government of the universe, since that universe is before our eyes like a beautiful book in which all creatures, great and small, are as letters to make us ponder the invisible things of God: his eternal power and his divinity, as the apostle Paul says in Romans 1:20. 

  All these things are enough to convict men and to leave them without excuse.

  Second, he makes himself known to us more openly by his holy and divine Word, as much as we need in this life, for his glory and for the salvation of his own.

•  From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof:

[T]here is strong evidence for the universal presence of the idea of God in the human mind, even among tribes which … have not felt the impact of special revelation. In view of this fact some go so far as to deny that there are people who are … real atheists; but this denial is contradicted by the facts. It is customary to distinguish between two kinds, namely, practical and theoretical atheists. The former are simply godless persons, who in their practical life do no reckon with God, but live as if there were no God. The latter are, as a rule, of a more intellectual kind, and base their denial on a process of reasoning. They seek to prove by what seem to them conclusive rational arguments, that there is no God. In view of the semen religionis implanted in every man by his creation in the image of God, it is safe to assume that no one is born an atheist. In the last analysis atheism results from the perverted moral state of man and from his desire to escape from God. It is deliberately blind to and suppresses the most fundamental instinct of man, the deepest needs of the soul, the highest aspirations of the human spirit, and the longings of a heart that gropes after some higher Being. This practical or intellectual suppression of the operation of the semen religionis often involves prolonged and painful struggles.

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Atheism
2. GotQuestions.org: What is atheism?
3. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: What is atheism?
4. Dustin Segers: No Good Reason To Be An Athiest
5. Gary Gilley: The New Atheism
6. Christopher Hitchens and Doug Wilson: Debate on the Existence of God (video)

Related terms:

• deism
• henotheism
• idolatry
• monotheism
• panentheism
• polytheism
• Trinity

Filed under Isms

Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.

Theological Term of the Week

henotheism
The belief in the existence of many gods while worshiping only one god.

• Scripture teaching against henotheism:

Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” [5] For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—[6] yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8:4-6 ESV).

• From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

• From What is henotheism? at GotQuestions.org:

Hinduism is a classic example of this belief in practice. Hindus generally worship one god, yet acknowledge that there are many other gods that can be worshiped as well. The religion of the ancient Greeks and their worship of the Olympians is another well-known example, with Zeus being the supreme ruler of eleven other gods. All twelve were worshiped, each individually by a different sect or temple.

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Henotheism
2. Blue Letter Bible: What Is Henotheism?
3. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: Henotheism
4. Ligon Duncan: God the Clockmaker - Deism

Related terms:

• deism
• idolatry
• monotheism
• panentheism
• polytheism
• atheism
• Trinity

Filed under Isms

Do you have a term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.