Unanimity is found across the universal church until
the 11th
century. Berengar (Tours, France, 1000 - 1088) was
one of the
first to deny
the real presence by arguing that
Christ is not
physically present, but only symbolically.
The Council of Rome (a local council), 1079, taught
against
Berengar that the Eucharist is truly the body and
blood of Christ.
By the 16th century, some Reformers (excluding
Luther)
also taught that Christ's presence in the Eucharist
was only
figurative or metaphorical. Since there were other opinions
being taught as truth (figurative presence and
metaphorical
presence) a teaching authority had to be appealed to
discern
error from the truth. The way of the Church was to
follow
the model of Acts 15.
.
.
.
Berenger
Council
of
Rome
Reformation