Debating the Eucharist -- Marburg and the Bible (Part 2)

In our continuing conversation about the nature of the Eucharist and the role it plays in Christian theology, I wanted to introduce into our conversation the debate that divided the Reformers. Their debate had important implications for how the Eucharist came to be understood among Protestants. Over time Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli essentially became the spokespersons for two poles of opinion. Many followed one or the other, while others, including John Calvin, Martin Bucer, and Thomas Cranmer sought to find a place to rest somewhere in between the two poles.
The debate at Marburg illustrates differences of opinion on how to interpret Scripture, a reminder that even if you believe the Bible to speak the word of God, it has to be interpreted!
So we begin with Luther’s interpretation:
•Luther
The name that has come to be attached to Luther's understanding of the Eucharist is "Consubstantiation." For Luther, the key to the debate was the interpretation of the word…
The debate at Marburg illustrates differences of opinion on how to interpret Scripture, a reminder that even if you believe the Bible to speak the word of God, it has to be interpreted!
So we begin with Luther’s interpretation:
•Luther
The name that has come to be attached to Luther's understanding of the Eucharist is "Consubstantiation." For Luther, the key to the debate was the interpretation of the word…