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Mystery of the Lord's Supper: Sermons by Robert Bruce
Robert Bruce preached these sermons on the sacrament in 1589 at Giles Cathedral where he was a successor to John Knox. He gives a powerful conception through the Lord's supper of the saving work of Jesus Christ. This modern edition has been translated and edited by T. F. Torrance.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 25, 2025
Pretty good.
March 26, 2009
Wonderful. Robert Bruce was a major voice warning about the enlightenment and the minimizing of the sacraments because of the enlightenment.
May 17, 2022
Very helpful sermons by Robert Bruce on the Lord's Supper. I highly recommend these for anyone studying the Lord's Supper, or the sacraments in general.
August 9, 2017
I thought this was a really good explanation of the sacrament. I think most Christians within the Reformed tradition would do well to read this. One also can see the pastoral side of Reformed theology come through with emphasis on God's mercy and love. I think a lot of his theological insights continue to have relevance today and inform our interactions with the sacrament. This is what I loved about this book.
What I didn't like was at times it drifted into the polemic tone of its day against Roman Catholicism. Granted, he lived during a time when the conflict and debate between both sides was anything but civil. This bitterness infected many theologians of this era. If we are to read these works today, we must be cognizant of this bitterness and not allow it to seep into our own rhetoric. That being said, I have read far worse from other contemporary theologians. I'm unsure what I think of his theory of atonement, as I still have an unformed view of atonement. At times I feel his emphasis detracts from the message of grace and mercy within the sacrament, but maybe I'm too modern in this regard.
Overall, well worth reading if one is able to read Bruce within his context. I think there are a lot of helpful insights regarding the Lord's Supper, faith, and humanity's struggle with sin.
What I didn't like was at times it drifted into the polemic tone of its day against Roman Catholicism. Granted, he lived during a time when the conflict and debate between both sides was anything but civil. This bitterness infected many theologians of this era. If we are to read these works today, we must be cognizant of this bitterness and not allow it to seep into our own rhetoric. That being said, I have read far worse from other contemporary theologians. I'm unsure what I think of his theory of atonement, as I still have an unformed view of atonement. At times I feel his emphasis detracts from the message of grace and mercy within the sacrament, but maybe I'm too modern in this regard.
Overall, well worth reading if one is able to read Bruce within his context. I think there are a lot of helpful insights regarding the Lord's Supper, faith, and humanity's struggle with sin.
August 14, 2017
This book contains a theologically robust and clear explanation of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. There is a thorough discussion of our spiritual reception of Christ as we partake in the Supper by the Holy Spirit through faith.
Bruce clearly articulates the relationship between the elements or the signs, the bread and the cup, and the things signified in them, the Body and Blood of Christ, or more specifically Christ Himself.
Bruce gives a detailed explanation of the connection between word and sacrament, and their relationship as sign and seal attesting to the reality of our union with Christ and one another in Him. Bruce also speaks extensively to the way we ought to prepare for partaking in the Supper.
There is also great value in reflecting upon Bruce's numerous responses to Roman Catholic objections to the sacramental understanding of the Supper. Highly recommend for those wanting to grasp a deep and thorough understanding of this most blessed sacrament.
Bruce clearly articulates the relationship between the elements or the signs, the bread and the cup, and the things signified in them, the Body and Blood of Christ, or more specifically Christ Himself.
Bruce gives a detailed explanation of the connection between word and sacrament, and their relationship as sign and seal attesting to the reality of our union with Christ and one another in Him. Bruce also speaks extensively to the way we ought to prepare for partaking in the Supper.
There is also great value in reflecting upon Bruce's numerous responses to Roman Catholic objections to the sacramental understanding of the Supper. Highly recommend for those wanting to grasp a deep and thorough understanding of this most blessed sacrament.
November 5, 2023
A great series of sermons which clearly and helpfully lay out the reformed view of the Lord's Supper. Bruce touches on the doctrine of the sacraments, followed by how the Lord's Supper is a sacrament, how the reformed view of the Supper (a spiritual presence) fits best with the doctrine and nature of a sacrament (that of sign and seal, as held by various Fathers such as St Augustine), and how one should prepare him/herself for before approaching the Lord's Table (i.e. why and how one should examine him/herself before partaking in the Supper).
Overall, a great read for anyone hoping to better understand the reformed view of the Lord's Supper
Overall, a great read for anyone hoping to better understand the reformed view of the Lord's Supper
May 24, 2020
Some bits of this work are excellent, others are meh.
March 3, 2021
Wonderful.
August 1, 2023
Excellent book on the Reformed understanding of the Lords supper.
January 24, 2016
As with most writing I've encountered on the Sacraments, I find myself swamped by nuance and what seems to be the splitting of hairs. I've rated it four stars because I'm certain it is my dullness not the author that's at fault.
The book has five chapters and three subjects. "The Sacraments in General" (chap.1), "The Lord's Supper in Particular" (chap.2-3), and "The Preparation for the Lord's Supper" (chap.4-5).
The summary of the book might be this - in the Supper we get the same Christ who is offered to us in the preaching of the Word. We get the same Christ, but we get him better because the Sacrament presents him to our weak faith through signs we can see, taste and touch.
At some point, I need to reread this book precisely because it has more than a single pass can glean. Of special help to me were the last two chapters on preparing oneself for the participation in the Lord's Supper.
The book has five chapters and three subjects. "The Sacraments in General" (chap.1), "The Lord's Supper in Particular" (chap.2-3), and "The Preparation for the Lord's Supper" (chap.4-5).
The summary of the book might be this - in the Supper we get the same Christ who is offered to us in the preaching of the Word. We get the same Christ, but we get him better because the Sacrament presents him to our weak faith through signs we can see, taste and touch.
At some point, I need to reread this book precisely because it has more than a single pass can glean. Of special help to me were the last two chapters on preparing oneself for the participation in the Lord's Supper.
February 13, 2013
Very rich and edifying account of the nature, meaning and practice of the Lord's Supper. Bruce shows that the Supper is not just a chance to remember Christ's death but, in doing so, to meet with the risen Christ and feast on his death by faith, not physical digestion. Also two helpful sermons on preparing oneself for partaking of the supper.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews