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The Significance of the Sermons of Wenzeslaus Linck

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The Significance of the Sermons of Wenzeslaus Linck This dissertation has been microfilmed exactly as received 69-4864 DANIEL, Jr., Charles Edgar, 1933- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SERMONS OF WENZESLAUS LINCK. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1968 History, modern Religion University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SERMONS OF WENZESLAUS LINCK DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Charles Edgar Daniel, Jr., B.A., A.M., M.A. The Ohio State University 1968 Approved by S J L A V S LINCK, ColditiiiuuyM ifhictfS > jLf.S.’7%iei*<fiae. fleeter*,& Jinistdtyurtm iiitjpr'utn ajmd 'W Utibir^in/ei vt'imtun vraidtcaiof* * dmupn ‘fyartuslh'tfnruialis,diinde^/tinpuf^iadtJ*it tan,, a *Jim #aft a ai ^d. jsb f'JVjrtfreraaifljt ^MriteracnJijJEicfaJiai/ w JLtcfl ital in jCinin dickii ACKN0WLEDQ1ENTS I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Professor Harold J. Grimm of the Department of History, The Ohio State University. His patience and encouragement were of incalculable aid to me in the production of this dissertation. I also would like to acknowledge the assist­ ance given me by Professor Gerhard Pfeiffer of the Univer­ sity of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. By his intimate know­ ledge of Nttrnberg's past he made its history live for me. Jfirgen Ohlau helped me in my use of source materials. I greatly treasure his friendship. iii VITA 12 February 1933 Born - Columbia, Missouri 1955............ B.A., University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 1955-1957 • • • • Graduate Assistant, Depart­ ment of History, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 1957 . • • . M.A., University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 1958-1959 .... Instructor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 1959 ....... A •M., Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 1959-1961 . • . Graduate Assistant, Depart­ ment of History, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1961-1962 .... Fulbright Scholar, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany 1963-1967 .... Instructor, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 1967-1968 .... Instructor, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field! History Renaissance and Reformation. Professor Harold J. Grimm The Middle Ages. Professor Franklin J. Pegues iv Age of the Enlightenment. Professors Harold J. Grimm and John C. Rule Colonial History. Professors Harry L. Coles and Eugene H. Roseboom Recent American History. Professors Robert H. Bremner and Foster Rhea Dulles Art History. Professor Frank Ludden v TABLE OP CONTENTS Page FRONTISPIECE ................................ 1A ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................ ill VITA ........................................ lv INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 Chapter I. THE IMPERIAL CITY OP NURNBERG . 12 An Overall View •••••........ 12 Early History of Niirnberg • • • • • 16 Niirnberg as an Intellectual Center • 31 II. THE LIFE OP WENZESLAUS LINCK UNTIL 1516 37 Y o u t h ...................... * . 37 School .................... 39 Monastic Life .......... ^3 Wittenberg University............ ^9 III. THE AUGUSTINIANS AND WENZESLAUS LINCK 57 Development of the German Augustinlan Congregation................ 57 The Influence of Johann von Staupitz 6l Linck and the Sodalltas •••••• 70 Linck's Later L i f e .... 73 IV. LINCK'S TECHNIQUES OP PREACHING . 80 Change from Scholasticism........ 80 Innovations and Figures of Speech • 93 V. LINCK'S POLEMICS.................. ll*f VI. WENZESLAUS LINCK'S THEOLOGY.... 13^ The Father and the So n . 135 Justification and Grace .••••• 14-0 Sacraments........................ 14-6 Linck's Mysticism ................ 148 vi VII. LINCK'S CONCEPTION OP CIVIC : RESPONSIBILITY.................... Economic V i e w s ............... • Social Responsibility • . ........ Education......................... VIII. IMPACT OP LINCK'S PREACHING . Early Days at Niirnberg.......... Absence from Niirnberg ....... Return to Niirnberg..........•••• BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................. INTRODUCTION Early In the nineteenth century historians revived an Interest In the persons who assisted the major reformers in the formation and dissemination of Reformation thought. The preliminary biographies were often prejudicial and fragmentary, but they usually presented the core of primary sources available. In the twentieth century most of these minor reformers have been the subject of detailed and thorough biographies and bibliographical studies,1 containing accounts of the lives and messages of the friends and colleagues of Luther, nor mere mirror images of Luther as was common in the nineteenth century. Historians have slighted Wenzeslaus Linck (14-83-154-7) in the twentieth century for, apparently, two reasons. In the first place, they p knew that Wilhelm Reindell was busy with a study of For studies of recent literature see: Harold J. Grimm, The Reformation in Recent Historical Thought (New York, 196k51 Harold J. Grimm, "Luther Research since 1920," Journal of Modem History. XXXII (I960), 105-118. For a study of attitudes toward the Reform­ ation see: Gerhard Ritter, "Lutheranism, Catholicism, and the Humanistic View of Life," Archly fUr Reformatlons- geschichte, XLIV (i9 6 0), 1-4-5-159. 2 Wilhelm Reindell, Doktor Wenzeslaus Linck aus Coldltz 14-83—154-7 i Nach ungedruokten und gedruckten Quelien: Erster Tell: Blszur reformatorlschen Thatlgkelt in Altenburg1 Mlt Blldnls und elnem Anhang enthaltend die zugehorlgen Documenta Llncklana 5-1522 (Marburg. 1892). 1 Linck and therefore did not engage In research on the reformer. During Relndell's lifetime few other scholars evidenced an Interest In Linck. In the second place, scholars Interested In the group of reformers connected with the University of Wittenberg did not Include Linck in their studies because the most Important part of his career followed his departure from Wittenberg. This work Is an attempt to revive an Interest In Linck by analyzing his extant sermons and to assess their In­ fluence upon the city of Niirnberg. In 1863 Hermann Wilhelm Caselmann published the 3 first modern biography of Linck, one of a series of biographies concerning the first generation of Luther*s followers. Perhaps It was natural to see all these men within the shadow of Luther. Caselmann pictured Linck's life and works as parallel to those of Martin Luther, his warm friend and colleague. In fact, Caselmann forced Linck's life Into such parallel patterns even when the facts did not support them. His work Is extremely useful, however, because he located much of the primary source material available. 3 ^Hermann Wilhelm Caselmann, "Wenzeslaus Link's Leben fiir chrlstllche Leser lnsgemeln aus den Quellen erzShlt," Das Leben der Altvater der lutherlsohen Kirche, edited ty Moritz Meurer (Leipzig and Dresden, Ib W), pp. 321-^28. Late in the nineteenth century, Wilhelm Reindell attempted to portray Linck as a major figure of the Reformation. Reindell saw the start of the Reformation as the work of five major figures, all either Augustlnlan monks or men connected with the University of Wittenberg. Obviously Martin Luther headed the list. The second Important influence he attributed to Melanchthon, the able advisor to Luther. He included George Spalatin, the priest and secretary to Frederick the Wise, primarily because of his political influence j'. Johann Staupitz, the Vicar General of the Augustinian order, because of his influence on Luther and many of his contemporaries $ and Wenzeslaus Linck, dean of the university at the time Luther received his doctorate, because of his proximity [l to Luther. Unfortunately, only one volume of Relndell's projected three-volume biography was completed. Of the eight volumes planned on the works of Linck, only the first was published. If Relndell had been able to finish his work, Linck might have emerged as a major A For works on the other three supporting figures sees Clyde Manschreck, Melanchthon. the Quiet Reformer (New York, 1958)$ Irmgard Boss. Georg Spalatin* Bin Leben in der Zelt des wnmanismus und Reformation (Weimar. 19^5) { E. Wolf1. Staupitz und Lusher (Leipzig, i$2?) { Alfred Jeremlas. Johannes von Staupitz. Luthers Vater und Sohtller (Berlin, l$5o). figure of the early Reformation and his work might have served as a bridge between two schools of Reform­ ation scholars, the one centering its research around Luther and his theology, the other working on the city of Niirnberg and its relationship with the Holy Roman EmpireRelndell's projected study could have served to fill the gap of scholarship that has existed for so long between these two fields of study* Numerous historians of the Reformation, like Joseph Lortz,^ view the Reformation of the sixteenth century as a two-sided movements one, the religious, theological experience of Martin Luther which resulted in the division of the ohurchi the other, the political and cultural upheaval which resulted in a major change for all Europe. While these historians are finding the relationship between these two movements, others are searching to find the relationship between the religious movement, the Reformation, and developments in society.? -*For examples of this approach see: Eugen Franz, Niirnberg Kaiser und Reloh s Studlen zur Relohsstadtlschen Au38enpoli~bik (Munich. 1930) t Adolf Engelhardt, "Die Reformation in Niirnberg," Mittellungen des Verelns filr Geschlohte der Stadt Niirnberg. XXXIII-XXXIV (1936-19T7) and XXXVI (1939)| Friedrich Roth. Die Elnfiihrung der Reformation in Niirnberg 1517-1528 (wdrzburg,
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