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.

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Part III: Questions about Salvation

94. Q. Can anyone be saved by his own righteousness?
       A. No. No one is good enough for God.

(Click through to read scriptural proof.)

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Sunday's Hymn: O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth which in my Savior shine!
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, and magnify the wondrous grace
Which made salvation mine, which made salvation mine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin, and wrath divine;
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears, exalted on His throne;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known, make all His glories known.

Soon, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home, and I shall see His face;
Then with my Savior, Brother, Friend, a blessèd eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in His grace, triumphant in His grace.

—Samuel Medley

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• I Sing the Mighty Power of God at Field Stone Cottage
• O How I Love Jesus at Rosemary at Home
• The Struggle and more at Gospel Grace
• Day by Day at The Happy Wonderer
• Have Thine Own Way at By Grace Alone
• Lord’s Day 39 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 39, 2012 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Faith Alone - September 23, 2012 at The Upward Call
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Our Unhurried God
• A Sunday Psalm: The Treasury of David - Psalm 9:7-8 at Theology for Girls
• Psalm 20 at Daily On My Way to Heaven

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.