Dialogue on the Two Natures in Christ

Peter Martyr Vermigli Library #2

by Pietro Martire Vermigli

In this last work of Vermigli's distinguished career as a theologian, he uses a dialogue to discuss the disagreement among Christians about the Eucharist and Christ's presence in the Lord's Supper.

Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) is considered to be one of the most important Italian reformers of the early modern period. Martyr is the subject of renewed interest for historical and theological scholars. The Peter Martyr Library, a series of critical English translations of the chief works of Peter Martyr Vermigli, allows his own words in context to speak for themselves.

Genres: Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Pietro Martire (Peter Martyr) Vermigli was an Italian theologian.

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very polite 16th century curb stomping.

[Samuel G. Parkison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly repetitive, but good and exhaustive. Vermigli's style is witty but very clear. The central biblical, historic, theological, and logical critiques of the Lutheran position of Christ's "immensity" comes out strong and, in my estimation, devastating. Although the occasion for the dialogue was centered around debates on Communion, this dialogue goes straight to the heart of Christology--specifically, on the relation between Christ's two natures--and stays there. I really enjoy the dialogue rhetorical format and would love to see it resurrected.

[Jonathan Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just such a good book, gets complex but just cannot find a better explanation on the natures of Christ.

[James Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vermigli, using dialogue as a canvas, paints an excellent and clear portrait of both the Fathers and the Scriptures to show that the doctrine held by some Lutherans of the Ubiquity of Christ's human body was totally novel in his day, and also that the Reformed teaching on the Spiritual Nature of the Lord's Supper is the most fitting to the Scriptures, Tradition, and Reason.
If one is looking for a short treatise, Topic 9 (pages 185-203) covers nearly the whole thing in recap, drawing primarily from the Scriptures and hitting the major points.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first foray into post-Reformation fathers. Vermigli helped me a great deal in understanding what it means that Christ is both God and man, and (at the end) the significance of the Supper. And he provided a good example of using the early church fathers and philosophical theology as aids (not ultimate authorities) to interpreting Scripture. It gets pretty dense in the middle and there is a sense that it could have been more compact. Nevertheless, I'm the better for picking it up.

[Colton Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

An approachable, thorough, and enlightening portrait of the Reformation-era Christological debates between the Reformed and Lutheran churches. Modern readers will profit from both Vermigli’s biblical and theological arguments as well as his quotations of the Church Fathers. While repetitive, it kept my attention captured to the end, and had many humorous moments as well. Would read again.

[Justin Dillehay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good argument by Vermigli against a Lutheran on the ubiquity of Christ's human nature. Teeming with quotes from the church fathers, and hilarious at times. But it could've been about half the length, as they really do circle over the same territory a lot.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series from the largely forgotten Italian reformer.