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T25 reasoning: Communion in both kinds; reservation and adoration

Reasoning steps: Communion in both kinds; reservation and adoration

Verdicts: T25 · Communion in both kinds; reservation and adoration. Method: conventions, scoring and proximity eras. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by era (Era I to c. 150 = 1.0, II = 0.8, III = 0.6, IV = 0.4).

T25.1: Communion in both kinds: should the laity receive the cup?

Step T25.1.1: Scripture

Jesus said, ‘Drink of it, all of you’ (Matt 26:27); Paul tells the whole congregation, ‘as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup’ and ’let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup’ (1 Cor 11:26–28).

Step T25.1.2: Patristic evidence

Justin (Era II): the deacons ‘give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water … and to those who are absent they carry away a portion’. Sources: justin-t25-s1.

Step T25.1.3: Weighing decision

Era II gives both elements to each communicant; withholding the cup from the laity is a later medieval Western practice. Verdict: communion in both kinds for all is the biblical and Era II norm; the later practice of communion in one kind lacks early support.

  • Confidence: High.

Step T25.1.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): Matt 26:27 and 1 Cor 11:26–28 address all communicants with the cup. (Scripture confidence: high)
  • Assessment: Scripture and Era II agree; Trent’s denial that both kinds are required by divine precept departs from both.

T25.2: Reservation and adoration of the consecrated elements?

Step T25.2.1: Scripture

The Supper is instituted to be eaten and drunk: ‘Take, eat … Do this in remembrance of me’ (Matt 26:26; 1 Cor 11:24). Scripture neither commands nor forbids carrying the elements to the absent or worshipping Christ in them.

Step T25.2.2: Patristic evidence

Justin (Era II): a portion is carried to the absent. Tertullian (Era II): a Christian wife will ‘secretly taste before (taking) any food’ the bread kept at home. Augustine (Era III): ’no one eats that flesh, unless he has first worshipped’. Sources: justin-t25-s1 · tertullian-t25-s1 · augustine-t25-s1.

Step T25.2.3: Weighing decision

Era II reserves the elements for the absent and for home communion; Era III speaks of worship in the act of receiving. Processions and exposition outside communion are medieval. Verdict: reservation for communion (Era II) and adoration in receiving (Era III) are early; adoration apart from communion is later. Scripture is silent beyond the command to eat.

  • Confidence: Medium.

Step T25.2.4: Source-proximity weighing

  • Scripture (benchmark): The institution centres on eating and drinking; Scripture does not address reservation. (Scripture confidence: low)
  • Assessment: Traditions that reserve for the sick fit Era II; those that forbid any reservation or any adoration depart from it; those that add processions go beyond it.

Post-750 development by tradition

Catholic

Trent XIII (1551), XXI (1562).

  • T25.1 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 1/4): Trent XXI canon 1: denies that ‘by the precept of God, or, by necessity of salvation, all and each of the faithful … ought to receive both species’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 2/4): Trent XIII ch. 6: reserving the Eucharist ‘is so ancient, that even the age of the Council of Nicaea recognised that usage’; canon 6: Christ in it is ’to be adored with the worship, even external of latria’ and ‘borne about in processions’ (verified).

Orthodox

Dositheus 17.

  • T25.1 (fathers n/a/4; Scripture n/a/4): Not assessed: the Orthodox practice of communion in both kinds is not stated in Dositheus; practice not sourced.
  • T25.2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 2/4): Dositheus, decree 17: the Body and Blood ‘ought to be honored in the highest manner, and adored with latria’ (verified).

Oriental Orthodox

Coptic catechesis.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Coptic Church, ‘The Eucharist’ (copticchurch.net): ’the believer eats the Holy Body and Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, presented by the Bread and Wine’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers n/a/4; Scripture n/a/4): Not assessed: no Oriental Orthodox text on reservation or adoration was located.

Lutheran

AC XXII; FC VII.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): AC XXII: ‘To the laity are given Both Kinds in the Sacrament … because this usage has the commandment of the Lord in Matt. 26:27’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): FC Epitome VII rejects teaching ‘That the external visible elements of the bread and wine should be adored’ (verified); no reservation outside the use.

Anglican

Arts. XXVIII, XXX.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. XXX: ‘The Cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the Lay-people’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): Art. XXVIII: ‘The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was not by Christ’s ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped’ (verified).

Presbyterian

WCF XXIX.4.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF XXIX.4: ’the denial of the cup to the people’ is ‘contrary to the nature of this sacrament’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 3/4): WCF XXIX.4: ‘worshiping the elements … carrying them about, for adoration, and the reserving them for any pretended religious use’ are ‘contrary … to the institution of Christ’ (verified).

Reformed Baptist

1689 30.4.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 30.4: ‘The denial of the cup to the people … contrary to the nature of this ordinance’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 3/4): 1689 30.4: ‘worshipping the elements … and reserving them for any pretended religious use’ (verified).

General Baptist

Orthodox Creed art. XXXIII.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed (1679) art. XXXIII rejects ’their denying of the Cup to the Laity’ (verified, reformedontheweb.com transcription).
  • T25.2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): Orthodox Creed (1679) art. XXXIII rejects ‘Adoration of the unbloody Sacrifice of the Mass’ (verified, reformedontheweb.com transcription).

Anabaptist

Schleitheim; Dordrecht X.

  • T25.1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Schleitheim 2: ’that we may break and eat one bread … and may drink of one cup’ (verified); Dordrecht X: the Supper ‘in bread and wine’ (verified).
  • T25.2 (fathers n/a/4; Scripture n/a/4): Not addressed: Dordrecht X and Schleitheim 3 are silent on reservation (verified).