Martin Luther

The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries witnessed a transition in the history of Western Civilization, during which the world of medieval Christendom began to give way to a new world order. Western medieval civilization—a synthesis of classical humanism and Judeo-Christianity—was overseen by the Holy Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church. People of the day believed in an orderly universe created by God and a great chain of being. This secure hierarchy was shattered when scientists, philosophers, and theologians began to explore the world around them with new eyes. Meanwhile, a number of national monarchs sought control of the church within their territories in order to secure a strong, unified nation-state apart from the influence of the Roman church. One avenue to control was provided for these monarchs by the Reformation, begun in 1517 by the obscure German monk Martin Luther. Because of his personal experience, reflection, and study of scripture, this religious scholar revised his Catholic faith to the alarm and contempt of Rome. Before long, Luther was accused of heresy, and the Reformation was underway. In this concise and thoughtfully prepared volume, Paul Waibel introduces readers to Luther with a brief biography followed by chapters that address why Luther chose to risk his life by challenging the authority of the papacy. Next, Luther’s most important Reformation writings are considered in chronological order. Among the writings discussed are his The Ninety Five Theses, To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, Concerning the Reform of the Christian Church, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church, The Freedom of the Christian, and The Bondage of the Will, as well as his two most controversial publications, Against the Robbing and Murdering Hordes of Peasants and On the Jews and Their Lies, which some books on Luther gloss over or ignore. In this highly readable and thoughtfully prepared volume, Dr. Waibel provides a brief and accessible introduction to one of the most influential persons in European and church history, making it an ideal supplement to wide variety of courses including World and Western Civilization, European History, Renaissance and Reformation, and, naturally, the History of Religion and Christianity. The appendix provides an annotated list of Luther’s extensive writings.

Foreword vii Chapter One Martin Luther, 1483-1546 1 Reformer 7 Church Leader 22 Summary 25 Key Events 26 Chapter Two Salvation in the Late Middle Ages 27 Salvation in the Early Church 27 Salvation in the Medieval Church 28 Salvation in the Late Medieval Church 30 Luther’s Understanding of Salvation 33 Summary 35 Key Events 35 Portraits 36 Chapter Three The Ninety-Five Theses 37 Background 37 The Ninety-Five Thesis 41 Content of the Ninety-Five Thesis 42 Significance 46 Summary 47 Key Events 48 Chapter Four The Three Treatise of 1620 49 To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Church (1520) 52 The Babylonian captivity of the Church (1520) 56 The Freedom of the Christian (1520) 61 Significance 65 Summary 65 Key Events 66 Chapter Five The Bondage of the Will 67 The Battle of Wills 72 Luther and The Bondage of the Will 76 Significance 79 Summary 80 Key Events 81 Chapter Six Against the Peasants and the Jews 83 Luther and the Peasants 84 Luther and the Jews 93 Assessment 100 Summary 101 Key Events 102 Postscript Martin-Luther: An Assessment 103 Appendix Annotated Chronology of Luther’s 109 Reformation Writings Bibliographical Note 133 Index 135 Maps Town’s of Luther’s Germany, circa 1530 xii Divisions of Religions, circa 1560 108