Comparative Theology
Sacraments compared
2 vs 7 sacraments, eucharistic presence, BEM 1982.
This module offers a systematic comparison of the sacramental theology of the three major Christian traditions. Sacramental divergences are among the deepest -- they touch on the nature of divine mediation and the efficacy of liturgical rites.
The Number of Sacraments
| Tradition | Number | List | Efficacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protestant | 2 | Baptism + Lord's Supper | Visible signs of the divine Promise -- efficacious for those who believe |
| Catholic | 7 | Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Orders, Marriage | Ex opere operato -- through the sole fact of valid administration |
| Orthodox | 7 mysteries | Same as Catholic | Divine energies operating through matter -- theurgic efficacy |
The Eucharist: Three Major Positions
Catholic Transubstantiation
The substance of bread and wine is changed into the body and blood of Christ (Council of Trent). The appearances (accidents) remain. Real, bodily, substantial presence. Doctrine defined at Lateran IV (1215) and Trent (1551).
Lutheran Consubstantiation
The body and blood of Christ are truly present "in, with, and under" the bread and wine -- without change of substance. Real presence affirmed. Augsburg Confession (1530), Article X.
Reformed / Calvinist
Real spiritual presence: Christ is truly present by his Spirit for those who receive by faith. Not corporal (Zwingli: pure memorial). Calvin: middle position -- real but spiritual, not physical, presence.
Baptism: Infant or Believer's?
✠ Lutheran / Reformed
Infant baptism as sign of covenant. Calvin: continuation of Old Testament circumcision. Luther: faith of the Church acts for the infant. Efficacious when received in faith at maturity.
✟ Catholic
Infant baptism remits original sin and incorporates into the Church. Ex opere operato efficacy. Necessary for salvation (in ordinary circumstances). CCC 1256-1261.
☦ Anabaptist / Baptist
Believer's baptism: only a personal confession of faith authorizes baptism. The church is a voluntary community of disciples. Infant baptism is invalid -- requires re-baptism (Wiedertaufe).
📚 Pour aller plus loin
References
Catholic
Protestant: 2 sacraments -- which ones and why 2?
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✓
Baptism (Mt 28:19) and the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:23-26). Protestant criterion: a sacrament requires (1) institution by Christ himself, (2) an external sign (water, bread/wine), (3) attached promise. Marriage, penance, etc. do not meet all three criteria.
Calvin
Catholic: ex opere operato -- what does this expression mean?
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✓
The sacraments confer grace by the mere fact of their valid administration -- independently of the minister's holiness or the recipient's subjective faith (Council of Trent, DH 1608). Contrast with Protestant position: efficacy depends on the faith of the recipient.
BEM
What is Calvin's position on the Lord's Supper?
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✓
Real spiritual presence: Christ is truly present by the power of his Spirit for those who receive by faith -- but his body remains at the Father's right hand. Rejects both Zwinglian memorialism (pure symbol) and Lutheran corporal presence. The Spirit lifts believers to Christ.
Catholic transubstantiation (Lateran IV, 1215; Trent, 1551): the substance of bread and wine is wholly changed into the body and blood of Christ -- only the accidents remain. Christ is present bodily and substantially. Lutheran consubstantiation: the body and blood of Christ are truly present 'in, with, and under' bread and wine -- without substance change. Luther's formula: 'like iron in fire.' Calvin: real spiritual presence -- Christ truly present by his Spirit for those who receive by faith, but his glorified body remains at the Father's right hand. The Spirit lifts us to Christ. Zwingli (more radical): pure memorial -- the Supper is a commemoration, not a vehicle of real presence. Stakes: (1) nature of Christ's humanity after the ascension; (2) sacramental efficacy; (3) the relationship between sign and reality.
Gerrish. Grace and Gratitude. Fortress, 1993. Council of Trent, Session XIII (1551). DH 1635-1661.
Quiz -- Comparative Sacramental Theology
3 questions
Q1/3
The Protestant criterion for recognizing a sacrament requires:
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Protestant sacramental criterion (Calvin, Institutes IV.14): (1) institution by Christ himself (not by the Church or apostles); (2) external sign (water, bread, wine); (3) attached divine promise. Only baptism and the Lord's Supper meet all three. Marriage and ordination are honorable institutions but not sacraments in the Protestant sense.Q2/3
In Catholic theology, what does ex opere operato mean?
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Council of Trent (1547, DH 1608): the sacraments confer grace ex opere operato -- through the rite itself, not through the merit of the minister or the subjective faith of the recipient. Contrast with the Protestant position (ex opere operantis): efficacy depends on the faith of the recipient.Q3/3
Calvin's position on the presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper is:
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Calvin (Institutes IV.17): real spiritual presence -- Christ truly present for those who receive by faith, but not physically/locally. The Spirit lifts believers to the glorified Christ at the Father's right hand. Rejects both Zwinglian memorialism and Lutheran ubiquity of Christ's body.Score
Bibliography / Bibliographie / Bibliografia
Compared sacramentology -- magisterial texts
- Trent. Decrees on the sacraments (1547-1563). DH 1600-1816.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1066-1690.
- Vatican II. Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963).
- Luther, M. Babylonian Captivity (1520). LW 36.
- Calvin, J. Institutes, IV.14-19.
- Trent, Session XIII (Eucharist, 1551).
- Trent, Session XIV (Penance, Anointing, 1551).
- Trent, Session XXIII (Holy Orders, 1563).
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