The Law of the Eucharist: Radbertus vs. Ratramnus—Their Controversy as to the Nature of the Eucharist

by George J. Gatgounis

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2021

Christians have been debating for centuries what Jesus meant at the Last Supper when he held out a piece of bread to his disciples and said, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Christians regularly celebrate the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, based on those words of Jesus, with some form of bread and wine. Most Christians believe that Christ is somehow present but disagree on what that actually means. The Law of the Eucharist: Radbertus vs. Ratramnus--Their Controversy as to the Nature of the Eucharist by the Rev. Dr. George Gatgounis, Esq., examines the issue from the writings of two ninth-century monks. Their arguments can be illuminating to modern exegetes who have to answer the same questions.

Praise for The Law of the Eucharist

“In this volume we have a careful study of the positions of two ninth-century scholarly monks in the millennia-old debate over the ontological nature of the eucharistic elements. However, Gatgounis goes beyond comparing Radbert’s transubstantiation and Ratramn’s spiritual presence to trace their influence on the debate down the centuries to Continental and English Reformers.”

—Charles L. Echols, author of “Tell Me, O Muse”: The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) in the Light of Heroic Poetry



“Gatgounis provides readers with a clear, coherent, and concise study of one of the most significant sacramental debates of the Middle Ages. . . . Rather than a tedious study of an arcane and antiquated topic, readers are presented with an important study on the development of doctrine and the relevance of theology in every era, including our own.”

—Timothy J. Demy, Professor of Military Ethics, US Naval War College

Product Details

• Title: The Law of the Eucharist: Radbertus vs. Ratramnus—Their Controversy as to the Nature of the Eucharist
• Author: George J. Gatgounis
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781725261242, 1725261243
• Resource ID: LLS:9781725261242
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-03-16T11:47:17Z

About George J. Gatgounis

George J. Gatgounis, a Harvard alumnus, is a published author, trial attorney, ordained minister, and seminary professor. A member of the Harvard Faculty Club, he formerly served as one of the editors of the Harvard Civil Rights Law Review, and the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy. As an active Harvard alumnus, he serves as the moderator of the Harvard Reading Club of Charleston, South Carolina. He serves at Cummins Seminary as professor of Hebrew Bible, and professor of Greek Septuagint (LXX), Greek New Testament, and Greek Classics. He is also a South Carolina Supreme Court-certified civil court mediator, family court mediator, and civil arbitrator.