Dr. Vess's World Civilization Virtual Library

The Reformation: Luther

objectives:

1. Be able to discuss general problems in the church and society which led humanists to criticize the structure and theology of the church. 2. Be able to discuss Valla's critique of the Donation of Constantine. How did this affect the Church's authority? 3. Be able to discuss Erasmus's major ideas and works. How did these ideas criticize the Church? 4. Be able to explain the importance of the Novum Instrumentum. 5. Be able to discuss the main ideas of Martin Luther before 1520. How did he criticize the Catholic Church and its theology? 6. Be able to explain the evolution of Luther's ideas AFTER 1520. Discuss the three treatises of 1520 and their main arguments. Be able to discuss Luther's view of sin, good works, human nature and salvation. 7. Be able to summarize the impact of Luther's ideas on the liturgy in Lutheran churches. How did Luther's practices differ from those of a Catholic mass and why? 8. Be able to discuss the impact of Luther's ideas on the German peasantry and nobility. How did these ideas affect the unity of the Holy Roman Empire?

Food for Thought: Martin Luther began his career as a devout Catholic, an Augustinian monk. He ended it as a heretic, who had been excommunicated from the Church and the realm, and whose writings were placed on a list of forbidden books. In art, he was portrayed as the seven-headed hydra, a man whose evil and pernicious influence brought about the end of a united Christendom. Erasmus, who along with Luther urged reform of the Church, claimed that Luther had "blown out his candle." Where there had once been the beginnings of reform, after Luther the church stood rigid in its traditional stance. The title of a recent biography of Luther describes him as "man between God and the Devil." Luther was a man of firm conviction, who was convinced that the theology of the Catholic Church was fundamentally wrong-headed, and that scripture was the only source of Christian revelation. In rejecting the role of the Church as mediator, Luther opened up an era not only of religious reform, but of political and social reform. His claim that "All Christians Are of the Same Estate" aroused rebellion in Germany, causing princes and peasantry alike to seek a new social order, encouraged a new role for women, and brought about more modern ideas on the family. Calling the papacy "The Whore of Babylon," Luther fractured the unity of Christians. Today, there are many denominations bitterly divided on the interpretation of the scriptures. Luther argued that everyone was his or her own priest, thus calling into question the special nature of the priesthood. Luther thus brought the secular character of the Renaissance to the structure of religion, and forever changed Christianity. Famous Quotations: The Mass is the greatest blasphemy of God, and the highest idolatry upon earth, an abomination the like of which has never been in Christendom since the time of the Apostles. Table Talk, 171. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. attributed remark, Diet of Worms. A mighty fortress os our God, A bulwark never failing. Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. Hymn, 1529 Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not - - struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God. Table Talk, 353.

OUTLINE I. General Problems in the Church A. The Babylonian Captivity B. The Schism C. Absent clergy II. Humanist critique of medieval approach to learning and its application to theology: A. Valla and the Donation of Constantine B. Erasmus i. Novum Instrumentum -- 1516 ii. critique of scholasticism The Praise of Folly The Paraclesis The Philosophy of Christ iii. critique of corruption in the church iv. outer manifestations vs. inner piety v. reform within the church III. Martin Luther A. Tetzel and the sale of indulgences i. The 95 Theses -- 1517 B. Luther and Sin: i. A God of wrath and Vengeance ii. the storm and St. Agnes iii. confession and more confession to Staupitz iv. Luther's first Mass MAN IS A SINNER!!!!! GOD IS JUST!!!!!! C. Justification by Faith i. The Freedom of a Christian -- 1520 ii. man's inner and outer natures the inner cannot be touched by the outer the nature of the commandments philology -- BE penitent vs. DO penance iii. only one thing is necessary for the Christian -- the Word of God despair and faith D. The Consequences of the Freedom of a Christian i. On the Babylonian Captivity of the Christian Church - 1520 only three sacraments can be justified in scripture: baptism, the eucharist, and marriage rejection of the deutero-canonical books --- the creation of the Protestant Bible ii. The Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation -- 1520 the three walls of the papacy: pope over King only the pope can summon a church council only the pope can interpret scripture Luther's ideas tumbled these three walls ALL CHRISTIANS ARE OF THE SAME ESTATE E. Broad Consequences of Luther's work: Kings just as good as popes peasants equal to kings -- Peasant's revolts Laity as able to interpret scripture as popes -- everyone is their own priest! Chalice for all!!!! Masses in language of the people -- English, German, etc. vs. the Latin of the Catholic Church no candles, saints, incense -- inner cannot be affected by outer no more monasteries: Luther marries an ex-nun No celibate clergy -- emphasized marriage New role for Women -- religious education in the home New emphasis on the family literalism and the word F. Luther's condemnation -- the Edict of Worms -- 1521 HERE I STAND -- I CAN DO NO OTHER!!! G. The revolt of the peasants and the Peace of Agusburg -- 1555 "cuius regio eius religio"