Concerning the Personal Union

Abstract

In this theological treatise, Johannes Brenz defends the Lutheran understanding of the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, emphasizing the personal union of Christ’s divine and human natures. Brenz affirms the literal truth of Christ’s words, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” rejecting both transubstantiation and symbolic interpretations. He argues that Christ’s body and blood are truly and substantially present in the Supper, not merely spiritually or metaphorically. Brenz responds to objections concerning the nature of Christ’s human body, its location in heaven, and the possibility of unworthy reception. He upholds the doctrine of the personal union, asserting that the divine and human natures of Christ are inseparably united in one person. This union allows for Christ’s bodily presence in the Supper without violating the properties of either nature. Brenz’s work reflects early Lutheran efforts to clarify and defend the mystery of the Incarnation and the Sacrament. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)