The Visible Church As a "Corpus Per Mixtum"

 The Visible Church As a "Corpus Per Mixtum"


"Corpus per mixtum," in Latin, means, "mixed body"; and the term was popularized by the great Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (354-430 AD).  In this paper, I will be largely depending on two great geniuses: the aforementioned Augustine and Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758 AD).  The point of my abbreviated thesis is this: the visible church, i.e. that body of those baptized in the Trinitarian formula in credally-faithful Christian communions, constitute all kinds of people--from a "spiritual" point of view.  I do wish to make this one preliminary comment, however, and it is this: in fact, ultimately (and most-importantly) there are only two categories of persons in the visible church, (or in the world, for that matter); and they are: the regenerate in Christ, and all the rest (who are all not regenerate).

 

Both Augustine and Edwards lived in and ministered in an age different from ours in a significant way--and that is, that most people who lived among those two eminent gospel ministers of the church were expected to be Christians, and to be joined to a visible expression of the body of Christ.  (Obviously, this is not the case today--at least in the western world.)  Because of this, in times past people were "Christians" for all kinds of less-than-stellar reasons.  This could include social pressure, business success, and familial convenience.  It is to our advantage that much of this is not the situation anymore. . . .

 

But, in any body of Christians (of any size), there will be a "mixture" of those who are regenerated, and those who are not.  The problem is, it is not always that easy to discern between the two.  The good news is, God has not called us to know this; He has only called on us to make judgments based on practice (behavior).  Even then, this is reserved for the church's eldership; and though it is done with care, it cannot be done with absolute certainty (regarding the state of souls under observation).

 

Having said all of what has preceded, what makes all of this intriguingly interesting, and mind-boggling, is how some people can appear to be regenerate, and not be; while others may seem to demonstrate little spiritual fruit, and yet be genuine children of God.  On top of this, it is actually possible to demonstrate (somewhat "possess?") some actual "spiritual gifts," and yet not possess the Holy Spirit Himself.  (Edwards does a nice job of explaining this.)  As well, it is possible to do a lot of talking about religious issues and things, and not be regenerate.  The same could be said for doing a lot of religious activity, and still not be regenerate.  Edwards concludes that the reality of love for Christ, based in saving faith in Him, will be the only true criteria--but that even this is only known to the church via perseverance and the exercise of Christian practice (gospel obedience to God).

 

Augustine takes this whole issue further still, and speaks of the fact that even the world is a sort of "corpus per mixtum," in that God has His elect within it--who have not yet been regenerated and united to the visible body of Christ.

 

My own take on all this, is that these two great theologians were absolutely right; and both of them came to their conclusions through the difficult trials of ministering to real human beings in their respective congregations.  Edwards hammered much of this out, in his monumental work, The Religious Affections--and in it he does more thorough "heart anatomy" on this issue, than anyone else I have ever come across.

 

I had taught my own congregation over the years, that there is one quite reliable "objective" guide, that Christians (on the whole, and in the main) can rely upon; and that is this: being faithful in a true (yet imperfect) church--being willing to listen to gospel preaching Sunday to Sunday.  Those who can do this may have a sensible assurance--so long as they love Christ through faith in His Person and gospel of grace.

 

Rev. Mark J. Henninger

Treatise #103

26 May 2026

 

https://theologicaltreatisesinretirement.blogspot.com

https://henningerdevotions.blogspot.com

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