Sir, - In reply to David O'Hanlon (March 8th), I accept the teachingof the physical resurrection of Christ because when He rose again fromthe dead, reliable inspired witnesses saw, touched and heard Him speak(John 20:26-27).
Again, my belief in the Godhead is solid because, according toinspired reliable witnesses, He has shown Himself and spoken to us inthe Person of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
But the only support for the teaching of "the real presence" is thatthe Roman and Eastern Churches keep insisting it is so. This is notsufficient to qualify for the faith extolled in Hebrews 11.
Protestants have no problem with John 6:53. We agree with Augustine:"If the sentence is one of command, either forbidding a crime or vice,or enjoining an act of prudence or benevolence, it is not figurative.If, however, it seems to enjoin a crime or vice, or to forbid an act ofprudence or benevolence, it is figurative. 'Except ye eat the flesh ofthe Son of man,' says Christ, 'and drink His blood, ye have no life inyou.' This seems to enjoin a crime or a vice; it is therefore a figure.. ." (Christian Doctrine, 3:16).
Protestants do not take everything in the Bible literally. Jacobsaid his son Issachar was a strong ass (Genesis 49:14). Jesus said Heis the true vine and His people are the branches (John 15:5).
We recognise that these are figures of speech, just as when Jesus said: "This is my body" at the Last Supper. - Yours, etc.,
Briarscourt,
Shanakiel,
Cork.