Extra calvinisticum

Extra calvinisticum (Latin: The Calvinistic beyond/outside) is a theological terminus technicus given by Lutheran scholastic theologians around 1620 to the teaching that Christ's divine nature cannot be enclosed or imprisoned within a human nature, but remains infinite despite being in union with a finite body. The doctrine is named for and associated with John Calvin, but is commonly found in the church fathers and is prominent in Augustine's Christology. This theological distinction is in contrast to scholastic Lutheran Christology. In the theology of Martin Luther Jesus Christ is omnipresent, not only his divine nature but also his human nature, this is because the two natures cannot be separated from one another, but interpenetrate one another (communicatio idiomatum). The Reformed, on the other hand, argued that "the Word is fully united to but never totally contained within the human nature and, therefore, even in the incarnation is to be conceived of as beyond or outside of (extra) the human nature."

For this reason, the Reformed argue that Christ cannot be present corporeally (bodily) in the Lord's supper, because he reigns bodily from heaven.

See also

• Hypostatic union
• Christology