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Martin Luther's First Psalm Lectures and the Canonical Shape

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Martin Luther's First Psalm Lectures and the Canonical Shape Martin Luther’s First Psalm Lectures and the Canonical Shape of the Hebrew Psalter by Brian Thomas German A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Wycliffe College and the Biblical Studies Department of the Toronto School of Theology In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College © Copyright Brian Thomas German 2014 Martin Luther’s First Psalm Lectures and the Canonical Shape of the Hebrew Psalter Brian Thomas German Doctor of Philosophy in Theology University of St. Michael’s College 2014 Abstract This dissertation examines thirty-five psalms from Martin Luther’s first professional lecture series (Dictata super Psalterium) and compares them primarily with his most influential forerunner in the faith, Saint Augustine. Its central argument is that the second half of these lectures exhibits a noticeably different character than the first half because of the profound effect that the canonical shape of the Hebrew Psalter had on Luther’s journey from Ps 1 to Ps 150. This is substantiated not only by a comparison of Luther’s work on similar material from different places in the Psalter but also by his integration of the “faithful synagogue,” a phenomenon whose relationship to the final form of the Psalter comes about aggregately from the Asaphite corpus onward. The way that Luther uses (canonically) earlier psalms in his interpretations of later ones deserves a central place in hermeneutical discussions of the Dictata. Far from a systematic treatise or disputation, these lectures are the terrain of an Augustinian monk who grows increasingly dissatisfied with a perceived distance between the Christological exuberance of Augustine and the pastoral “ethos” of the Psalter. It would take Luther’s existential identification with the pulse waves of the sacred assembly throughout Books III–V to provide not only the spiritual relief he was seeking but also a realization of the profound capacity of the literal sense of Scripture to extend across all three advents of Christ as testimony. ii Acknowledgments At times I wonder what the following pages would look like were it not for the attentive involvement of my Doktorvater, Professor Christopher Seitz. His timely and insightful feedback kept my research at an optimum level, and I continue to welcome his influence on my thinking with great appreciation. A debt of gratitude is also owed to Pastor James Kellerman, whose expertise in Latin enriched my translations to a caliber beyond my competence. Lastly, this project would not have happened in the first place without my own “Katharina von Bora,” Kalia, who tirelessly supported her husband’s doctoral ambitions with patience and love. Luther once said that “There is no bond on earth so sweet…as that which occurs in a good marriage.” Kalia has shown me the truth in that. To her this work is dedicated. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 Setting the Stage ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Status Quaestionis ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 A New Approach ................................................................................................................................. 14 1.4 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 16 1.5 Procedure ............................................................................................................................................. 18 1.6 “Preface of Jesus Christ” ................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2 Luther and the Psalms of Asaph: The Origins of the “Faithful Synagogue” 26 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 26 2.1 Luther in Relation to Augustine and Cassiodorus throughout the Asaphite Corpus .. 28 2.1.1 Psalm 73: Conversion or Strengthening Faith? ............................................................................... 28 2.1.2 Psalm 74: A Synagogal Split ..................................................................................................................... 34 2.1.3 Psalm 77: Who Speaks this Psalm? ....................................................................................................... 39 2.1.4 Psalm 78: Today’s Dividing Line ............................................................................................................ 45 2.1.5 Psalms 80 and 81: The Figure of Joseph ............................................................................................. 50 2.1.6 Psalm 83: Israel among the Nations ..................................................................................................... 55 2.1.7 Summary of 2.1 .............................................................................................................................................. 59 2.2 Similar Material before the Asaphite Corpus ........................................................................... 60 2.2.1 Asaph before the Asaphite Corpus: Psalm 50 ................................................................................... 61 2.2.2 Corporate Laments before the Asaphite Corpus: Psalms 44 and 60 ...................................... 63 2.2.3 The Nations before the Asaphite Corpus: Revisiting Psalm 83 in Light of Psalm 60 ...... 68 2.2.4 Summary of 2.2 .............................................................................................................................................. 69 2.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 70 2.3.1 Who (or What) is Asaph? ........................................................................................................................... 70 2.3.2 Canonical Reflections .................................................................................................................................. 74 Chapter 3 The Integration of the Faithful Synagogue, Part I: Psalms 84–106 ............... 78 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 78 iv 3.1 The Faithful Synagogue throughout the Rest of Book III: Psalms 84–89 ........................ 80 3.1.1 Psalm 85: Mercy and Truth in One Person ........................................................................................ 80 3.1.2 Psalm 87: Shall a Man Say? ....................................................................................................................... 85 3.1.3 Psalm 89: Divine Rejection ....................................................................................................................... 89 3.1.4 Summary of 3.1 .............................................................................................................................................. 98 3.2 The Faithful Synagogue throughout Book IV: Psalms 90–106 ............................................ 99 3.2.1 Psalm 90: Moses, Man of God .................................................................................................................. 99 3.2.2 Psalms 93–99: The Lord Reigns, Let the Faithful Synagogue Say .......................................... 103 3.2.3 Psalm 101: The Reemergence of David ............................................................................................. 111 3.2.4 Psalm 102: The Threefold Advent ....................................................................................................... 116 3.2.5 Psalm 105: The Eternal Covenant ....................................................................................................... 125 3.2.6 Summary of 3.2 ............................................................................................................................................ 133 3.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 133 3.3.1 Luther’s Old Testament Focus in Relation to Augustine ............................................................ 134 3.3.2 Canonical Reflections ................................................................................................................................ 135 Chapter 4 The Integration of the Faithful Synagogue, Part II: Psalms 107–150 ......... 139 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 139 4.1 The Faithful Synagogue Leading up to Psalm 119: Psalms 107, 111, 112, and 115 . 141 4.1.1 Psalm 107: The Redeemed of the Lord ............................................................................................
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