To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation

1520 treatise by Martin Luther

To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (German: An den christlichen Adel deutscher Nation) is the first of three tracts written by Martin Luther in 1520. In this work, he defined for the first time the signature doctrines of the priesthood of all believers and the two kingdoms. The work was written in the vernacular language German and not in Latin.

## History

[edit]

The Disputation of Leipzig (1519) brought Luther into contact with the humanists, particularly Melanchthon, Reuchlin, Erasmus, and associates of the knight Ulrich von Hutten, who, in turn, influenced the knight Franz von Sickingen.[1] Von Sickingen and Silvester of Schauenburg wanted to place Luther under their protection by inviting him to their fortresses in the event that it would not be safe for him to remain in Saxony because of the threatened papal ban. Between the Edict of Worms in April 1521 and Luther's return from the Wartburg in March 1522 a power struggle developed of who was to lead the Reformation through its competing possibilities and how the Reformers should follow their teachings. In Wittenberg each interested party – prince, town council and commune – wished to expand its influence on the governance of the church in accord with its own values and needs.[2] Through this the question of authority appeared. The church made a strong attempt at drawing distinct lines on saying who had authority in the spiritual sphere and its matters. This division of Christians into spheres motivated Luther to write on the "three walls" the "Romanists" created to protect themselves from reform, this was the letter "to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation".

Under these circumstances, complicated by the crisis then confronting the German nobles, Luther issued his To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (Aug. 1520), committing to the laity, as spiritual priests, the reformation required by God but neglected by the pope and the clergy.[1] This treatise, which has been called a "cry from the heart of the people" and a "blast on the war trumpet," was the first publication Luther produced after he was convinced that a break with Rome was both inevitable and unavoidable.[3] In it he attacked what he regarded as the "three walls of the Romanists": (1) that secular authority has no jurisdiction over them; (2) that only the pope is able to explain Scripture; (3) that nobody but the Pope himself can call a general church council.[3] Luther then describes what he saw as the issues facing the church of his day, such as the amount of power held by the pope or the abuses of the church against the German people, drawing on complaints German nobles had been making.[4] The document ends with a list of 27 proposals for reform to be taken by the church or the secular authorities.[5]

### The First Wall: Spiritual Power over Temporal

[edit]

Separation of church and state in the history of the Catholic Church

Overview

* Two kingdoms doctrine
in Roman Catholicism
* Relations between the
Catholic Church and the State
* Catholic integralism
* Politics of Vatican City

Sovereignty and loyalty

* Papal deposing power
* Sovereign immunity § Holy See
* Dual loyalty § Historical examples
* Fourth vow § In the Society of Jesus

Documents

* Donation of Constantine
* Dictatus papae
* Unam sanctam
* To the Christian Nobility
of the German Nation
* Papal Jurisdiction Act 1560 (Scotland)
* Disputationes de Controversiis
* Dignitatis humanae
* Church–state relations in Argentina § 2005
Episcopal Conference document

Historical controversies

* Constantinian shift / Constantinianism
* Investiture Controversy
* Society of Jesus § Political intrigue
* Cisalpinism vs. Ultramontanism
* Americanism
(heresy) § The American response

20th century topics

* History of Christian thought on persecution
and tolerance § The mid-20th-century
Spanish model
* Letitia Dunbar-Harrison
* Christian anarchism § Catholic
Worker Movement

Current topics

* Evo Morales and the Roman Catholic Church
* Radio Maryja § Involvement in politics
* Laudato si' § Impact
on the United States political system
* Catholic social teaching
* Conscience clause in medicine in the
United States § Catholic doctrine
* Canon 915 § Politicians
consistently promoting permissive
abortion or euthanasia laws
* Bp. W. Francis Malooly on Canon 915
* Bp. Edward J. Slattery § Illegal immigrants

* v
* t
* e

The first wall of the "Romanists" that Luther criticized was that of the division of the spiritual and temporal state. Through this criticism Luther states how there is no difference among these states beyond that of office. He elaborates further by quoting Saint Peter and the Book of Revelation stating that through baptism we were consecrated as priests. Through this statement he attempts to diminish the Church's authority significantly and describes priests as nothing more than "functionaries". Luther provides the example of "if ten brothers, co-heirs as king's sons, were to choose one from among them to rule over their inheritance, they would all still remain kings and have equal power, although one is ordered to govern."[6] From this statement Luther calls for religious office to be held by elected officials, stating that "if a thing is common to all, no man may take it to himself without the wish and command of the community." Therefore, through this criticism of the first wall one can see Luther taking authority from the Church by saying that everyone is a priest and giving more authority to govern to the temporal sphere. The problem that arises out of this can be found in a letter written by an anonymous Nürnberger, "Whether Secular Government has the Right to Wield the Sword in Matters of Faith." This article raises the question of how much governing control was acceptable for the temporal authorities to have over the spiritual sphere. From Luther's letter temporal authorities took too much control and were executing and banishing for reasons of faith, but at the same time the papists were burning and hanging "everyone who is not of their faith."[7] Thus, the question of who was to have authority to govern the spiritual sphere.

### The Second Wall: Authority to Interpret Scripture

[edit]

In the second part of the letter to the Christian nobility of the German nation, Luther debates the point that it is the Pope's sole authority to interpret, or confirm interpretation of, scriptures, the large problem being that there is no proof announcing this authority is the Pope's alone and thus assuming this authority for themselves.[6] Through this criticism, Luther allows the laity to have a standard to base their faith on and not an official's interpretation, thus detracting more from the Church's control over the sphere. This criticism, unlike in the first wall, supported a strong base of the reformation, the break away from the rules and traditions of the Catholic Church. The Reformation was based on setting the standard on the Scriptures, not on church dogma. Through this reformers were able to have a standard to look to for laws and regulations concerning their faith.[8]

### The Third Wall: Authority to Call a Council

[edit]

Papal primacy, supremacy and infallibility

Overview

* Primacy of Peter & Papal primacy
* Papal supremacy
* Papal infallibility
* First Vatican Council § Papal infallibility

Patriarchs
compared to popes

* Papal primacy
* Episcopal see § Catholic Church
* Apiarius of Sicca § Appeal to the bishop of Rome
* Pentarchy § After the East–West Schism
* Pope John XIX § Life
* Gregory II Youssef § First Vatican Council
* Ravenna Document
* Eastern Orthodox opposition
to papal supremacy

Ecumenical councils
compared to popes

* Conciliarity
* Conciliarism § Modern conciliarism
* Ecumenical council § Acceptance
of the councils
* To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
§ The Third Wall: Authority to Call a Council
* Ultrajectines

Catholic episcopal councils
compared to popes

* Febronianism
* Christus Dominus § Controversy
* The Ratzinger Report

Political rulers
compared to popes

* Gallicanism
* Patronato real
* Josephinism
* Febronianism
* Cisalpinism
* Appointment of Catholic
bishops § Centralization of papal power
* Concordat § List
* Papal deposing power

Existing dogma
compared to popes

* Development of doctrine
* Cum ex apostolatus officio
* Pascendi Dominici gregis

Objections and controversy

* Ecclesiastical differences between the
Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox
Church § Papal authority
* Ignaz von Döllinger § Papal authority
* Ultramontanism § Position of
other apostolic churches
* Papal infallibility § Objections
* Old Catholic Church § First Vatican Council,
Old Catholic Union of Utrecht
* Sedevacantism
* Josip Juraj Strossmayer § Catholic diplomacy

* v
* t
* e

This final part to Luther's letter is the largest demonstration of his desire to see authority in control over the spiritual sphere shift to the temporal sphere. The Church was able to protect itself by preventing anyone other than the Pope from calling a council to discuss spiritual affairs. To this, Luther states that anyone should have the ability to call a council if they find a problem or issue of the spiritual sphere. Further, Luther delegates the "temporal authorities" to be best suited for calling a council as they are "fellow-Christians, fellow-priests, sharing one spirit and one power in all things, and [thus] they should exercise the office that they received from God."[6] This shift in power to the temporal authorities in faith matters became a larger problem later in the Reformation. Confrontations arose as to who had the right to interfere in matters of faith, such as at what point is it acceptable for the government to stop a new religion from forming. An example of this confrontation can be found in a document by an unknown Nürnberger entitled "Whether Secular Government has the Right to Wield the Sword in Matters of Faith." This document asked if military force employed to stop uprising violence, whether applied by the government or the church, is the Christian thing to do. Some believed that violence begot more violence, that "those that lived by the sword would die by the sword"[9] others believed it was the secular sphere's duty to protect its people and stop new faiths from forming. They made use of the Old Testament as proof for their statements, thus relying on old tradition and papal interpretation.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Samuel Macauley Jackson; George William Gilmor (eds.). "Luther, Martin". The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. New York, London: CCEL. p. 71\. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31.
2. ^ Lindberg 2006, pp. 96–97.
3. ^ a b Spitz 1987, p. 338.
4. ^ Montover 2011, pp. 120-121
5. ^ Montover 2011, p. 123
6. ^ a b c Rupp & Drewery 1970, pp. 42–45.
7. ^ Estes 1994, p. 41.
8. ^ Lindberg 2006, p. 5.
9. ^ Estes 1994, p. 44.
10. ^ Estes 1994, p. 56.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Johannes Brenz: An Answer to the Memorandum that Deals with this Question: Whether Secular Government has the Right to Wield the Sword in Matters of Faith. May 8, 1530
* Estes, James M. (1994), Whether Secular Government has the Right to Wield the Sword in Matters of Faith: a controversy in Nürnberg, 1530, Toronto: Victoria University.
* Lindberg, Carter (2006), The European Reformations, Boston: Blackwell.
* Martin Luther: Letter to the Princes of Saxony Concerning the Rebellious Spirit July, 1524
* Martin Luther: The Ninety-five Theses, in Martin Luther: Documents of Modern History, ed. Benjamin Drewery and E. G. Rupp. London: Edward Arnold, 1970
* Montover, Nathan (2011). The Political Dimensions of Martin Luther's Universal Priesthood. Cambridge: The Lutterworth Press. ISBN 9781608999934.
* Rupp, E. G.; Drewery, Benjamin (1970), Martin Luther, Documents of Modern History, London: Edward Arnold.
* Spitz, Lewis W. (1987), The Renaissance and Reformation Movements (rev. ed.), St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, p. 338.
* Unknown Author (Linck, Wenceslaus or Osiander, Andreas?). Whether a Secular Government may Regulate Spiritual Matters, Restrain False Teaching, and Put Down Ungodly Abuses. 1530
* Unknown Author (Wenceslaus Linck or Andeas Osiander). Whether Secular Christian Government Has the Power to Ban False Preachers or Erring Sects and to Establish Order in Ecclesiastical Affairs. 1530

## External links

[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Address to the Christian Nobility

* To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation public domain audiobook at LibriVox

* v
* t
* e

Martin Luther

* Bibliography
* Resources about Martin Luther

Works|

* Ninety-five Theses (1517)
* Sermon on Indulgences and Grace (1518)
* To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1520)
* On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520)
* On the Freedom of a Christian (1520)
* Commentary on the Magnificat (1521)
* Against Henry, King of the English (1522)
* Luther Bible (1522, 1534)
* The Adoration of the Sacrament (1523)
* Formula missae (1523)
* Flood prayer (1523)
* Against the Murderous, Thieving Hordes of Peasants (1525)
* On the Bondage of the Will (1525)
* Against the Heavenly Prophets (1525)
* The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ—Against the Fanatics (1526)
* Deutsche Messe (1526)
* Confession Concerning Christ's Supper (1528)
* On War Against the Turk (1529)
* Small Catechism (1529)
* Articles of Schwabach (1529)
* Large Catechism (1529)
* A Simple Way to Pray (1535)
* Smalcald Articles (1537)
* On the Councils and the Church (1539)
* On the Jews and Their Lies (1543)
* Vom Schem Hamphoras (1543)
* Luther's Table Talk (1566)
* Weimar edition of Luther's works

| List of hymns|

* First Lutheran hymnal (1524)
* Erfurt Enchiridion (1524)
* Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn (1524)
* "Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl" (1524)
* "Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" (1524)
* "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (1529)
* "Sie ist mir lieb, die werte Magd" (1535)
* "Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (1543)

|

Topics
and events|

* Reformation
* Lutheranism
* Heidelberg Disputation, 1518
* Leipzig Debate, 1519
* Exsurge Domine, 1520
* Diet of Worms, 1521
* Decet Romanum Pontificem, 1521
* Marburg Colloquy, 1529
* Augsburg Confession, 1530
* Luther's canon
* Theology of Martin Luther
* Theology of the Cross
* Priesthood of all believers
* Sola fide
* Sola scriptura
* Two kingdoms
* Beerwolf (1539)
* Law and Gospel
* Marian theology
* Eucharist in Lutheranism
* Sacramental union
* Words of Institution
* Antisemitism
* Propaganda during the Reformation
* Die Lügend von S. Johanne Chrysostomo (1537 edition)

People|

* Hans and Margarethe Luther (parents)
* Katharina von Bora (wife)
* Magdalena Luther (daughter)
* Paul Luther (son)
* Albert of Brandenburg
* Bartholomaeus Arnoldi
* Erasmus
* Georg Rörer
* Johann Cochlaeus
* Johann Reuchlin
* Johann von Staupitz
* Justus Jonas
* Karl von Miltitz
* Andreas Karlstadt
* Philip Melanchthon
* Pope Leo X
* Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
* Frederick the Wise
* Albrecht VII von Mansfeld

Luther sites|

* All Saints' Church, Wittenberg
* Stadtkirche Wittenberg
* Lutherhaus
* Lutherstädte
* Martin Luther's Birth House
* Martin Luther's Death House
* Melanchthonhaus (Wittenberg)
* St. Augustine's Monastery
* Veste Coburg (Fortress)
* Wartburg Castle

Film and theatre|

* Martin Luther (1923 film)
* Luther (1928 film)
* Martin Luther (1953 film)
* Luther (1961 play)
* Luther (1964 film)
* Luther (1974 film)
* Martin Luther, Heretic (1983 film)
* Luther (2003 film)
* Luther and I (2017 film)

Luther Monuments|

* Luther Monument, Washington D.C.
* Luther Monument, Worms

Related|

* Luther rose
* Theologia Germanica
* Martin Luther Christian University
* Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template