Theophilus and Transubstantiation

Q. Did Theophilus advocate the Roman dogma of transubstantiation?

Theophilus (c. ?-183/5 A.D.):

Otherwise you would not have been moved by senseless men to yield yourself to empty words, and to give credit to the prevalent rumor wherewith godless lips falsely accuse us, who are worshippers of God, and are called Christians, alleging that the wives of us all are held in common and made promiscuous use of; and that we even commit incest with our own sisters, and, what is most impious and barbarous of all, that we eat human flesh640. (Philip Schaff, ANF, Vol II, Theophilus to Autolycus, III.4). Here

 

Footnote 640:

[The body of Christ is human flesh. If, then, it had been the primitive doctrine, that the bread and wine cease to exist in the Eucharist, and are changed into natural flesh and blood, our author could not have resented this charge as “most barbarous and impious.”]

 

Consider, therefore, whether those who teach such things can possibly live indifferently, and be commingled in unlawful intercourse, or, most impious of all, eat human flesh, especially when we are forbidden so much as to witness shows of gladiators, lest we become partakers and abettors of murders. (Philip Schaff, ANF, Vol II, Theophilus to Autolycus, III.15). Here

 

 

~ Soli Deo Gloria