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Chapter 32 THE LORD'S SUPPER THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND THE REAL PRESENCE Research into die various phases in Luther's development of die doctrine of die sacraments in general, and of his doctrine of die Lord's Supper in particular, has made clear die extent of die shift in accents.1 If in 1519 or 1520, in dependence on Augustine, Luther gave an entirely independent definition of sacrament widi his dis­ tinction between sign, meaning, and faith, now, since 1520, die words of institution and die institution of Baptism by Christ are at center. After 1523 and particularly during die debate widi Zwingli, Ludier accepted die real presence of die body and blood of Christ in die elements of die Supper. These changes raise die question of die continuity in Ludier's view.We obviously need to caution against hasty judgment. That specific doctrines such as dieTrinity or certain basic ecclesioiogical data were demonstrably of fundamental significance for Ludier, a significance easily overlooked in superficial observation, should caution us against seeing in die real presence a view to which he gave greater accent for die sim­ ple reason diat odiers contested it. It may radier be diat widi elaboration of die doc­ trine of die real presence specific motifs of his tiieology and experience of faidi were given a doctrinal formulation deeply anchored in die Reformation impulse. To diis extent, one may say diat Ludier's Reformation dieology took on particularly signifi­ cant shape in die debate widi Zwingli over die Supper. As to die significance of the words of institution, from his early period onward Ludier was concerned widi a complex but materially necessary connection between Christ's establishing or instituting die Supper, die sign of die presence of 1 See above, pp. 127-36 and pp. 169-77. 306 T H E LORD'S SUPPER 307 the crucified and risen Lord under the bread and wine, and die meaning or promise as apprehended in faidi.To begin widi, he left unclear the relation between Christ's body and blood shed on the cross for die forgiveness of sins, die words of institu­ tion, and the presence of Christ's body and blood "under" the elements.2 His later accent on the real presence succeeded in clarifying and securing a con­ nection previously assumed. Clearly, what resulted was a new accent, though nothing new was added to die doctrine of the Lord's Supper as Luther first developed it, merely that its purpose was set forth in consistent fashion. Simi­ larly, nothing was altered of the central position of the words of institution. They remained at center. After 1523 Luther interpreted not only the words "for you" in all dieir breadth, but also the words preceding, "diis is my body, this is my blood." Next to die words of institution, the word in 1 Corindiians 10:16 ("The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in die blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?") was of spe­ cial importance for Ludier's doctrine of die Supper. He wrote diat it was "a thun­ derbolt on die head of Dr. Karlstadt and his whole party."3 He continually stressed that what is at issue in this text is die fellowship of die body of Christ.4 It dius excludes a merely symbolic interpretation, just as do die words of institution diemselves. "So diis verse of Paul stands like a rock and forcefully requires the interpretation diat all who break diis bread, receive, and eat it, receive die body of Christ and partake of it. As we have said, it cannot be spiritual, so it must be a bodily participation."5 For Lutiier, die words of institution as well as die text of 1 Corindiians ren­ dered die real presence absolutely certain: "I see here die clear, distinct, and power­ ful words of God which compel me to confess, diat die body and blood of Christ are in die sacrament ."To diis fact all questions as to how diis could be possible had to yield: "Such should be our answer, and ridicule we can meanwhile disregard. How Christ is brought into die bread or strikes up die tune we demand, I do not know. But I do know full well diat dieWord of God cannot lie, and it says diat die body and blood of Christ are in die sacrament."6 When diey read...

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