Belief overview

Supper as real spiritual communion

Christ is truly communicated to the faithful in the Supper in a spiritual sense.

50%

Confidence

Supportive

Contrary

Neutral

What it is: Calvinism affirms that the Lord's Supper is a real means of grace and true communion with Christ.

How the religion understands it: Christ's presence in the Supper is understood as real, yet spiritual, and not as bodily located in the bread and wine. Through the action of the Spirit, the faithful truly participate in Christ.

Context: This position distinguishes Calvinism both from strict memorialism and from the classic Lutheran formulation of bodily real presence.

Documentary evidence

Supportive

1 Corinthians 11:26

bible,supper,calvinism,sacrament

Proclamation of the Lord's death in the supper.

Reference: 1 Corinthians 11:26.
Content: The text relates the supper to the proclamation of the Lord's death until he comes.
Use in debate: It is important for the Reformed understanding of the supper as both a means of grace and proclamation.

Institutes 4.17

calvin,supper,calvinism,institutes

Calvin's exposition on the Lord's Supper.

Reference: John Calvin, Institutes, book 4, chapter 17.
Content: Calvin develops the doctrine of the supper as true spiritual communion with Christ.
Use in debate: It is one of the main sources for the Reformed position on the supper.

Contrary

Marburg (1529)

reformation,supper,luther,marburg,lutheranism

Reformation debate about the Lord's Supper.

Reference: Marburg Colloquy, 1529.
Content: The meeting revealed disagreement between Luther and other Reformers about Christ's presence in the supper.
Use in debate: It is key for distinguishing the Lutheran position from other Protestant positions.