Eusebius of Caesarea

[Waynec]

From Demondstratia Evasngelica, 8.1.76-80 Proof of the Gospel
As with some of this writers citations this ones seems to be wrong also this is what he wrote(Nathan Busenitz trying to prove that even the Church Fathers didn’t beleive in the Real Presence.) I don’t know how to refute this. This is the paragraph that Mr. Busenitz cited: For with the wine which was indeed the symbol of His Blood, He cleanses them that are baptized into his death, and believe on His blood, of their old sins, washing them away and purifying their old garments and vesture, so that they, ransomed by the precious blood of the divine spiritual grapes, and with the wine from this vine, “put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man which is renewed into knowledge in the image of Him that created him”… He gave to His disciples, when He said, “Take, drink:this is my blood that is shed for you for the remission of sins: this do in remembrance of me”. And, “His teeth are white as milk,” show the brightness and purity of the sacramental food. For again, He gave Himself the symbols of His divine dispensation to His disciples, when He bade them to make the likeness of His own Body. For since He no more was to take pleasure in bloody sacrifices, or those ordained by Moses in the slaughter of animals of various kinds, and was to give them bread to use as the symbol of His body. He taught the purity and brightness of such food by saying, " and his teeth are white as milk."

How are we to understand the meaning of the word symbol here. Did the word symbol have a different meaning then?

thanks

 

[adf417]

Dont let the word symbol be confused with our modern usage of symbolism. Jesus chose to use the items bread and wine and could have chose to use nuts and milk. The items Jesus chooses is not originally His body and blood but will become His body and blood. In this sense these items are symbols. This does not constitute symbolism as in the items that which they became is not really what He said they are.

Peace!!!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

“Symbol” here just means the item Jesus chose to become his body. “Symbol” is also an English word and carries a bunch of meanings both from English language and from Protestantism trying to disprove the Real Presence, that likely weren’t attached to it then.

Also, Eusebius was excommunicated for supporting the Arian heresy. I think they lifted the excommunication but he continued to oppose St. Athanasius, who is considered a really great saint of the Catholic Church, so I don’t know as I would worry too much about anything Eusebius said. I’d leave it to the scholars to sort out, some of them have criticized his writings also.

I also don’t think Eusebius is considered a Church Father, because he argued against so many of the actual Church Fathers.

 

[Waynec]

Thank you both. . I have always been helped when I come here. Thanks a bunch and God Bless