Transcript Martin Luther: early career to 1517

Luther’s theological development, 1517-30
Richard Fitzsimmons
Strathallan School
Theological development
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All through his life Luther suffered from pangs of self-doubt and
spiritual temptation – some have tried to argue that he was
psychologically unstable
His early theological development is due to two factors – the counselling
of Johan Staupitz, and his own study of Hebrew (from 1509)
Even at this early stage he began to emphasise the Biblical relationship
between God and Man
BUT, the real difference came with his appointment as Doctor of
Theology in 1512, which brought preaching responsibilities at Wittenberg
University
1513-17: lecture series on Psalms, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews
He abandoned the idea of God as vengeful deity, and came to see Christ
as a symbol of hope = God wants to give people salvation, rather than
exacting punishment and then giving it. All a man had to do was accept
God’s freely given gift
Justification by faith alone = sola fide
The 95 Theses (Oct.1517)
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Written as a response to Luther’s revulsion at the claims Tetzel
and others were making for indulgences
Appeared after his sermon against indulgences of Oct. 1516
Attacked the doctrine of the Treasury of Merit – and said that
indulgences could only be used to forgive sins against Church law
Indulgences cannot be bought or sold, as God’s forgiveness and
salvation are not as commodities for sale
Said the Pope had no power over souls in purgatory
Said that the true penitent would not seek to evade punishment
for his sins, nor are indulgences necessary as God’s forgiveness is
automatically available
This also sees his first real emphasis on the preaching of the
Gospel, and the authority to be found in the Scriptures
Theological principles …
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These had been honed through discussion with Cajetan in 1518,
debate with Johannes Eck at Leipzig in 1519, and through his
writings on Indulgences
He had attacked the authority of the Papacy and the Church that they could make mistakes, whereas Scripture was the only
source of true authority. He had emphasised the authority of
Scripture more than previous ‘reformers’
He had become convinced that Rome was the city of evil, Babylon
and the Antichrist
He believed that the only certain way to salvation was through
Justification by faith alone – this was the so-called ‘Tower
experience’ derived from St Paul’s letters
On the Papacy in Rome (June 1520)
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Written in German
Written in response to an attack by the Leipzig
Franciscan theologian Augustine Alveld
Argued that Christendom was a congregation of all
believers on earth
Publicised his attack on the Papacy’s claim to be head of
the Christian church
He said that the Church’s spiritual and physical power
ought to be separated
An Appeal To The Christian Nobility
of the German Nation (August 1520)
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This was Luther’s most popular treatise of 1520 and was
dedicated to Nikolaus von Amsdorf – 4000 copies sold in 2 weeks
Written in German and directed at the rulers of Germany’s many
states, including the Emperor Charles V – invited them to take
the initiative in the reform of Church and Society (had Luther
already abandoned any notion of reforming the Church from
within ?)
Sharp criticism of Rome – Papacy had built 3 walls to protect
itself (superiority of spiritual authority, claims of popes to
interpret Scripture, assertion that each pope was superior to a
Church Council)
Argued that the Papacy had abrogated its responsibility to
repress abuses in the Church
Luther condemned the idea of a separate spiritual domain, and
argued for a ‘priesthood of all believers’ in which each man could
help determine his own path towards salvation
The Babylonian Captivity of the
Church (September 1520)
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Written in Latin and intended for an academic audience
Argued that the papacy held the Church captive with man-made beliefs
and practices, rather than basing teachings on Scriptures
He saw the 7 sacraments as a ‘tyranny’ perpetuated by ‘anti-Christs’ who
had set themselves in Christ’s place
He reduced the number of sacraments to 2 – Baptism and the sharing of
the bread and wine (Eucharist) – the only two that could be justified by
the New Testament – the other 5 were invalid, though he thought that
penance still had a place in the practices of the faithful
He argued that forgiveness of sins was a matter between the individual
and God, not the priest
He said that priests were no different to other people, but that they
had to be authorised by the community to carry out certain functions –
henceforth Lutheran priests/ministers would be chosen by their
congregations.
The Freedom of a Christian Man
(Nov.1520)
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Written in German and Latin, perhaps a work of conciliation
towards Pope Leo X, though it gives notice that he will not recant
and is distancing himself further from Rome
Contained a call for the summoning of a general council of the
Church
Developed further his idea of ‘Justification by faith alone’, and
clarified his opinions on the worth of doing ‘good works’ …
Contained the sum total of what Luther wanted to teach about
Christian Life
‘A Christian is a perfectly free lord, subject to none. A Christian
is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.’
Against the Murdering and Thieving
Hordes of Peasants (May 1525)
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Written at the height of the Peasants War in response to the
outrages and excesses of the peasants, not least the opposition
and insults thrown at Luther by Thomas Müntzer
He said the rebels deserved death, ‘…for they have forsaken
their vow of obedience and struck out at legitimate authority.
They are makers of sedition, blasphemers of God, masking their
deeds under the pretext of the Gospel.’
He believed that in rebelling against legitimate authority, the
peasants were placing themselves above God.
This was the pamphlet that persuaded the city authorities and
nobility that Luther was somewhat of a social conservative at
heart – the peasants, on the other hand, thought he had betrayed
his own social order.
Biblical Translations
In terms of their effects, and the amount of
work he put in, these are perhaps Luther’s
finest achievements. Even Catholics used his
translation
1522 – the ‘September Testament’ was
published – Luther’s translation of the New
Testament which was enormously successful –
85 editions over 11 years (200,000+ copies)
1534 – his translation of the Bible appeared
greatly strengthened the place of the German
language in literature
What had Luther done ?
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Of primary importance for an understanding of Luther’s theology
is an appreciation of the pamphlets of 1520, and the principles
which underpinned them.
Luther did not intend to set up an alternative Church system or
theology. Through the reaction to the 95 Theses of October
1517, the conversations with Cardinal Cajetan and others in 1518,
and most importantly through the Leipzig Disputations of 1519,
Luther found himself refining his theological beliefs and moving in
what could be perceived as a more radical direction.
By the end of 1520, after the completion of his four major
pamphlets, his ‘new theology’ was almost complete, though details
still had to be argued over, refined or defended. The process was
unsystematic and the result of Luther’s spontaneous responses to
ideas, events and his opponents.
What had Luther done ?
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He had placed the Papacy at the centre of matters; having begun with a
rather low-key invitation to academic debate over the efficacy of
Indulgences in October 1517, he had been led in the direction of the
assertion that the Papacy was analogous to the Anti-Christ.
He had advanced the idea that all one needed for salvation was faith
(sola fide)
He had placed an emphasis on the spiritual authority of Scriptures that
no-one else had advanced to the same extent (sola scriptura)
He had developed the idea of the ‘Priesthood of all believers’ which
attacked the role of the priest as developed in late Mediaeval Catholic
doctrine
He had attacked the 7 Sacraments and reduced their number, first to
three and, subsequently, to two (baptism and the Eucharist)
He had rejected transubstantiation
He had developed the meaning of Christian freedom.
Luther’s theology: an overview
Emphasis
on lack of
Free Will
Attack on
role of the
priest
Priesthood of all
Believers
Vernacular
Scripture
Rejection of
Transubstantiation
Sacrifice of
the Mass
not
necessary:
already
done
Justification
‘Sola Fide’
Rejection of good
works as means to
salvation
Rejection of penitential
cycle/reduction of
sacraments
Emphasis on Scripture
Gospel –v- tradition