The Eucharist and protestants

[SMcCarthy]

At what point did protestants stop believing that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus and start believing that is only symbolized it. Did it happen immediately with Martin Luther or is it something that unraveled over time?

 

[Mjohn1453]

I am guessing it happened when they realized they no longer had valid Apostolic succession therefore making it impossible for their “priests” to confect the Eucharist.

 

[thomist]

It began with Luther. As regards Apostolic succession, Protestants (except early Anglicans) never did accept that, and they still deny it today.

When Luther declared: “Sola scriptura, sola fidei, sola gratia” (‘Scripture alone, faith alone, grace alone’) the basis of Christian belief it severed Protestants’ from not only Apostolic succession, but the entire ‘handed-on-teaching’ (= tradition) of Christianity. The effects weren’t immediate - they kind of sputtered along clinging to some ‘traditions’ despited their lack of foundation for them.

Which is why I always take discussions with them to the historical roots of Christianity first.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Luther believed in the Real Presence and over time Consubstantiation developed. The denial of the Real Presence began with other reformers, Wickliff, Hus and Zwingli and Calvin who denied from the start that Priestly Orders and Apostolic Succession were not established by Christ.

 

[SMcCarthy]

Thank you for your response’s

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Br. Rich,
We Catholics often identify Luther with Protestantism, so I’m glad you pointed out other Reformers from different traditions as well. Let’s also not forget the Waldensians and later the Anabaptists.

In general,
Actually, if I remember my readings of Luther correctly, he did not even necessarily deny a transubstantiation-like Real Presence, but found the idea so philosophically complicated that he could not see how an ordinary peasant in the pews could be expected to be able to believe it. Of course, just as in all other brands of Protestantism, Lutheranism is no longer the denomination of its founder.

If you are looking for the original movement to deny the Real Presence that was able to gain a substantial following, you’ve got to go all the way back to Berengarius, who lived in (I believe) the 10th century. I also think he later recanted his heresy. (You can see from my level of certainty that I’m no Church historian).