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Martin Luther's "Two Kingdoms Theory": an Analysis Through the Lens of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Religionless Christianity

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Martin Luther's Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Fall 11-5-2013 Martin Luther's "Two Kingdoms Theory": An Analysis through the Lens of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Religionless Christianity Janet Leigh Gesme Portland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Religion Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Gesme, Janet Leigh, "Martin Luther's "Two Kingdoms Theory": An Analysis through the Lens of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Religionless Christianity" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1508. https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.1512 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. Please contact us if we can make this document more accessible: [email protected]. Martin Luther’s “Two Kingdoms Theory”: An Analysis through the Lens of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Religionless Christianity by Janet Leigh Gesme A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in World Language: German Thesis Committee: Steven Fuller, Chair William Fischer Kathleen A. Godfrey Portland State University 2013 © 2013 Janet Leigh Gesme Abstract The following work is an analysis of Martin Luther’s Two Kingdoms Theory. This influential and controversial theory was introduced in his 1523 treatise, Von weltlicher Obrigkeit—Secular Authority. Although this document was written almost 500 years ago and takes its cue from the writings of St. Augustine and the Bible, it continued to have a significant effect on German society in both the political and religious realm well into the present day. Based on an analysis of the text and on the culture and literature that led Luther to write Von weltlicher Obrigkeit, this thesis evaluates various interpretations and applications of the Two Kingdoms Theory. The specific effects of Luther’s teaching during the Nazi era are examined politically and theologically. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Religionsloses Christentum—Religionless Christianity and Martin Luther’s Zwei-Reiche-Lehre—Two Kingdoms Theory will be compared to demonstrate that they illuminate the same truth from different vantage points: neither people nor their rules are viable substitutes for God. A brief introduction explains the means of analysis used in this thesis, which is based on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s call for a new religionless language as described in letters written during his imprisonment by the Nazi regime. i Acknowledgements There is no doubt in my mind as to whom I should acknowledge first for the final product contained in these pages: I thank my God and Father, my Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for infinite patience and for not letting go of me throughout the research, writing, and revision stages of the thesis process. All of my other thanks pour out of this primary source: I am grateful for Larry Sewel, Adrienne Brown, my mother—Sara Lynch, Pastor Joel LiaBraaten, Stacey Donohue, Reid Kajikawa, and Dr. William Fischer for advice, revisions, proof-reading, and encouragement. Thank you! To Pat Givens and Ruth Hoffman I owe a special debt of gratitude: your help in tracking down German and English versions of obscure literature was invaluable to me, along with your enthusiasm, proof reading, and advice. The great majority of what I learned came from the books that you tirelessly ordered for me. For help with the original German version of this thesis I thank Denise Krause, GiGi DeBerry, and Christoph Stauder. The countless hours you spent editing this work and advising me on matters of style, grammar, and quality will not be forgotten! Much of what you taught me I continue to use in each new paper I write. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Kathy Godfrey, for supporting me throughout 4 terms of graduate school and seeing me through to the end of my studies as a member of the thesis committee. ii My thanks to Dr. Steven Fuller are too deeply heart-felt to express on paper. The books you sent me in the mail, the encouragement, the excellent editing--I am more grateful than you can ever imagine. Without you, I would have thrown in the towel! But I must also thank my husband, Michael Gesme, who would not let me give up, no matter how frustrated I became. Thank you, Michael, for your unfailing love and support, and thank you to my son, Alex and my daughter, Zeta, for your patience during the thesis writing process. In researching the topics of the Two Kingdoms Theory and Religionless Christianity a new world of fascinating, challenging literature has been opened up to me. And so I end my thanks where they began: thank you, my ever-present Lord, for this new world You have shown to me. I have learned much more than is written here in these pages, and I look forward to years of learning yet to come. iii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... ii List of Diagrams ......................................................................................................................................... vi Preface ......................................................................................................................................................... vii 1. Literature Review .................................................................................................................................. 1 2. The Two Kingdoms Theory according to Martin Luther’s Treatise: Von weltlicher Obrigkeit ...................................................................... 9 3. The Traditions and Literature out of which Luther’s Two Kingdoms Theory Evolved ..................................................................................... 25 3.1: Religious Customs of the 16th Century and Control of the People ......................... 26 3.2: Augustine and his Influence on Martin Luther ............................................................... 33 3.3: The Influence of Holy Scriptures on Luther’s Two Kingdoms Theory ................. 40 4. Luther’s Two Kingdoms Theory during the time of National Socialism: The Interpretations and Applications of Barth and Bonhoeffer ......................................... 46 4.1: Martin Luther: An anti-Semitic Hero? ................................................................................ 49 4.2: Martin Luther from Bonhoeffer’s Point of View ............................................................ 53 4.3: The Weakness of the Two Kingdoms Theory: Karl Barth’s Criticism of the Evangelical Church ................................................................... 57 4.4: The Political Thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer ................................................................. 65 5. Reinventing the Two Kingdoms Theory: Bonhoeffer’s Religionless Christianity ........................................................................................... 84 5.1: The Kingdom of God: Not a Synonym for Religion ....................................................... 85 5.2: The Enlightenment of the World: Is Religion Still Necessary? ............................... 89 5.3: Violence in Religion .................................................................................................................... 90 5.4: Defining Religion ......................................................................................................................... 93 5.5: The “Diesseitigkeit” of the Kingdom of God ..................................................................... 97 5.6: The Kingdom of God is Religionless Christianity, which is Discipleship ........... 104 6. The Two Kingdoms Theory: A Visual Analysis ................................................................... 107 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 121 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 124 iv Appendix A: The Power of God ....................................................................................................... 128 Appendix B: The Worth of a Counselor ....................................................................................... 129 Appendix C: Primary Bible Verses used by Luther in Von weltlicher Obrigkeit ......... 130 Appendix D: Exceptions to the Rule .............................................................................................. 131 Appendix E: The Command of the Old Testament to Love your Enemy ....................... 132 Appendix F: The Sermon on the Mount ....................................................................................... 133 Appendix G: The Transfer of the Soul........................................................................................... 134 v List of Diagrams Diagram 1: Two Spheres .................................................................................................................... 108 Diagram 2: God’s Kingdom within the Kingdom of the World .......................................... 109 Diagram 3: The Kingdom of the World inside of God’s
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