The other sacraments and rites: shared notes and post-750 development
Moved here from
notes/reasoning/other-sacraments.mdin the tier migration. The per-question reasoning now lives on each doctrine’s reasoning page: S06.1 · S06.2 · S06.3 · S06.4.
The other sacraments and rites: reasoning steps
Verdicts: categories/other-sacraments.md. Method: conventions and proximity tiers. Scripture is the primary measure; fathers are weighed by tier (T1 to c. 150 = 1.0, T2 = 0.8, T3 = 0.6, T4 = 0.4).
Post-750 development by tradition
Catholic
Lombard’s seven; Florence (1439); Trent VII, XIV, XXIV.
- K1 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 2/4): Confirmation a distinct sacrament (Trent VII), separated in time from baptism in the West.
- K2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 2/4): Trent XIV: auricular confession of all mortal sins necessary by divine law.
- K3 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 2/4): Trent XIV: ’extreme unction’, for those in danger of death.
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Trent XXIV: a sacrament; indissoluble.
Orthodox
Seven mysteries (from the 13th century, under Western influence).
- K1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 3/4): Chrismation in one rite with baptism.
- K2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Confession to a priest with absolution.
- K3 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Euchelaion for the sick.
- K4 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): A mystery; divorce and remarriage allowed by economy.
Oriental Orthodox
Seven mysteries in Coptic catechesis (to verify).
- K1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 3/4): Chrismation with baptism (Coptic and Armenian rites; to verify).
- K2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Confession and absolution (to verify).
- K3 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): Anointing of the sick (to verify).
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): A mystery (to verify).
Lutheran
AC XI–XIII; Apology XIII.
- K1 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 2/4): Not a sacrament; catechetical confirmation (AC XIII lists none).
- K2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): AC XI: private absolution retained, enumeration not required.
- K3 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Not practised.
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): Holy estate, not a sacrament.
Anglican
Art. XXV; 1662 offices.
- K1 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): 1662 Confirmation: bishop’s laying on of hands; Art. XXV not a sacrament of the Gospel.
- K2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): 1662 Visitation of the Sick: absolution after special confession.
- K3 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Art. XXV: ‘corrupt following of the Apostles’; no anointing in 1662.
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): Art. XXV: ‘states of life allowed in the Scriptures’.
Presbyterian
WCF XXVII–XXX.
- K1 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): WCF XXVII: only two sacraments; no rite.
- K2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): WCF XXX: censures and church discipline; no absolution rite.
- K3 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Not practised.
- K4 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 4/4): WCF XXIV.5–6: divorce for adultery or desertion.
Reformed Baptist
1689 26, 28.
- K1 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): 1689 28: only two ordinances.
- K2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): 1689 26: discipline by the congregation.
- K3 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Not in the 1689.
- K4 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 4/4): 1689 25: marriage; divorce not addressed in detail (to verify).
General Baptist
SC 1660 art. 12; Orthodox Creed.
- K1 (fathers 4/4; Scripture 4/4): SC 1660 art. 12: baptized believers come to ‘Prayer and Laying on of Hands, that they may receive the promise of the holy Spirit’ (verified).
- K2 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): Congregational discipline.
- K3 (fathers 2/4; Scripture 3/4): Practised among some General Baptists (to verify).
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): Orthodox Creed 43 on family duties (to verify).
Anabaptist
Schleitheim 2; Dordrecht XII.
- K1 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): No rite.
- K2 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 3/4): Schleitheim 2: the ban, with admonition before the breaking of bread; resembles early public discipline.
- K3 (fathers 1/4; Scripture 2/4): Not in Schleitheim or Dordrecht.
- K4 (fathers 3/4; Scripture 4/4): Dordrecht XII: marriage ‘in the Lord’; separation only for fornication.