Historical Theology · Patristic Database

The Christian
Belief Map

What the first five centuries believed — and who still believes it today.

217
Belief Records
46
Figures
500
Years
6
Traditions
Reset
Doctrines
Christology 8 Ecclesiology 81 Eschatology 22 Mariology 14 Petrine Ministry 32 Pneumatology 6 Prayer & Devotion 5 Scripture & Tradition 33 Soteriology 7 The Eucharist 30 The Priesthood 11 The Sacraments 31

THE EUCHARIST

21 records
What the early Church fathers taught on this doctrine
Affirmed (21)
Which modern traditions agree with the early Church on this doctrine?
Dark bar = identical/convergent · Light = partial agreement
Catholic
95% 20/21
Orthodox
100% 21/21
Lutheran
67% 14/21
Reformed
14% 3/21
Baptist
14% 3/21
Evangelical
14% 3/21
By Era
3
Apostolic
12
Ante-nicene
6
Nicene
0
Post-nicene
Figures Attesting
21 Belief Records
IA Ignatius of Antioch c. AD 107
The Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, not a symbol
affirmed
IA Ignatius of Antioch c. AD 107
Only a Eucharist administered by the bishop, or by one he has authorised, is to be regarded as valid
affirmed
IA Ignatius of Antioch c. AD 107
The first day of the week Eucharist was the central act of Christian worship from the beginning
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
The eucharistic thanksgiving is addressed to the Father through Christ and the people respond Amen
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
Deacons carry the Eucharist to those absent from the assembly
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
The Eucharist fulfils Malachi's prophecy of a pure offering acceptable to God
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
The congregation's response of Amen to the eucharistic prayer is an act of participation and ratification
affirmed
JM Justin Martyr c. AD 155
The Eucharist consists of bread and a cup of water and wine, over which the president gives thanks
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
The Eucharist contains the body and blood of Christ, which refutes those who deny the resurrection of the flesh
affirmed
IL Irenaeus of Lyon c. AD 180
Irenaeus teaches that the Eucharist is a firstfruit offered to God from his own creation
affirmed
TT Tertullian c. AD 200
Fasting before receiving the Eucharist is an ancient Christian practice
affirmed
CC Cyprian of Carthage c. AD 252
The Eucharist is the daily bread for which Christians pray in the Lord's Prayer
affirmed
CC Cyprian of Carthage c. AD 252
Receiving the Eucharist unworthily is a sin against the body and blood of the Lord
affirmed
CC Cyprian of Carthage c. AD 253
Cyprian teaches that the cup must be mixed with water and wine at the Eucharist
affirmed
CC Cyprian of Carthage c. AD 253
The Eucharist must follow Christ's own institution exactly — he used bread and wine mixed with water
affirmed
CJ Cyril of Jerusalem c. AD 350
The Eucharist is the body of Christ and conveys eternal life to those who receive it worthily
affirmed
JC John Chrysostom c. AD 390
Chrysostom describes the Eucharist as physically receiving Christ — the communicant fixes their teeth in his flesh
affirmed
AM Ambrose of Milan c. AD 390
Ambrose describes the consecrated eucharistic elements as the true body and blood, changed from bread and wine
affirmed
JC John Chrysostom c. AD 390
The Eucharist transforms those who receive it into the body of Christ — communicants become what they receive
affirmed
AM Ambrose of Milan c. AD 390
The Eucharist effects what it signifies — it is not merely a sign
affirmed
JC John Chrysostom c. AD 398
Chrysostom teaches that the Eucharist is the same sacrifice as Calvary, not a different one
affirmed
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