Theological glossary · FaithLogic

Sacramental union

The Lutheran term: by Christ's word, his body and blood are united with the consecrated bread and wine so that in receiving one, the communicant receives the other.

'Union' proper to a sacrament — neither a local containment nor a mere symbol.

'This is my body'; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:27–29.

Set out in the Augsburg Confession (Art. X) and the Formula of Concord against both Rome and Zwingli.

Depends on the communication of properties in Christology — the glorified human body of Christ can be present wherever he wills.

The Reformed reject it via the 'extra Calvinisticum' — Christ's body remains locally in heaven.

Open in the glossary for related terms and the doctrines this concept appears in.