Several chapters that appear in this book were previously published as essays and some in substantially revised form.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- "His completely trustworthy testament" : the development of Luther's early eucharistic teaching, 1517-1521 -- "The truth of the divine words" : Luther's sermons on the Eucharist, 1521-1528, and the structure of eucharistic meaning -- "An intermediate brilliance" : the words of institution and the gift of knowledge in Calvin's eucharistic theology -- Not "hidden and far off" : the bodily aspect of salvation and its implications -- For understanding the body in Calvin's theology -- Preaching and presence : constructing Calvin's homiletic legacy -- Reflections on a mirror : Calvin's preaching on preaching (Deuteronomy 5) -- "He is outwith the world ... that he may fill all things" : Calvin's exegesis of the ascension and its relation to the Eucharist -- The communication of efficacy : Calvin's 1 Corinthians commentary and the development of the institutes -- Discerning the body : the Eucharist and the Christian social body in sixteenth-century Protestant exegesis -- Hardened hearts, hardened words : Calvin, Beza, and the trajectory of signification.

Surveys of the Reformation era typically provide readers with a broadly framed discussion of the Lord's Supper and the respective positions taken by the major figures involved--Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Ulrich Zwingli--with regard to Christ's presence in the bread and wine. These more narrowly focused essays by Thomas Davis, however, bring a helpful sense of context to the discussion with an examination of important details that are often overlooked. --from publisher description.