• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

First Principles of the Reformation or the Ninety- five Theses and the Three Primary Works Author(s): Luther, Martin (1483-1546) Publisher: Grand Rapids: Christian Classics Ethereal Library Description: "I, Martin Luther, Doctor, of the Order of Monks at Wittem- berg, desire to testify publicly that certain propositions against pontifical indulgences, as they call them, have been put forth by me." This volume is a collection of several works by the father of the Reformation, Martin Luther, edited by Henry Wace. First is a series of introductory essays by Wace and others, and a synopsis of the theology of the Reformation in his famous 95 Theses. These Theses are, per the title, in- cluded in this work. The other three primary works in this publication are: "To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Respecting the Reformation of the Christian Estate," "Concerning Christian Liberty," and "On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church." All three are a collection of writings and letters Luther authored on each religious issue. All three pieces, as well as the Theses, are valuable works of literature written by one of the most important Christian figures ever, and should be studied and treasured. Abby Zwart CCEL Staff Writer i Contents Title Page 1 Prefatory Material 3 Advertisement 3 Contents 4 Introductory Essays 6 I. On the Primary Principles of Luther’ Life and Teaching. 7 II. The Political Course of the Reformation in Germany (1517-1546.) 26 First Principles of the Reformation. 58 The Ninety-five Theses. 59 Introductory Letter 60 Disputation of Dr. Martin Luther Concerning Penitence and Indulgences. 62 Protestation. 68 The Three Primary Works of Dr. Martin Luther. 69 I. To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Respecting the Reformation 70 of the Christian Estate. Dedicatory Letter. 71 To his most Serene and Mighty Imperial Majesty, and to the Christian Nobility 73 of the German Nation. I. The Three Walls of the Romanists. 75 The First Wall. 76 The Second Wall. 80 The Thrid Wall. 82 II. Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils. 84 III. Twenty-seven Articles Respecting the Refofrmation of the Christian Estate. 94 II. Concerning Christian Liberty 130 Dedicatory. Letter of Martin Luther to Pope Leo X. 131 Concerning Christian Liberty 138 ii III. On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church 163 Introduction 164 Concerning the Lord’s Supper 170 Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism 194 Concerning the Sacrament of Penance 211 Of Confirmation. 218 Of Matrimony. 219 Of Orders. 228 On the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. 235 Indexes 241 Index of Scripture References 242 Latin Words and Phrases 245 German Words and Phrases 247 Index of Pages of the Print Edition 248 iii This PDF file is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org. The mission of the CCEL is to make classic Christian books available to the world. • This book is available in PDF, HTML, Kindle, and other formats. See http://www.ccel.org/ccel/luther/first_prin.html. • Discuss this book online at http://www.ccel.org/node/3656. The CCEL makes CDs of classic Christian literature available around the world through the Web and through CDs. We have distributed thousands of such CDs free in developing countries. If you are in a developing country and would like to receive a free CD, please send a request by email to [email protected]. The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a self supporting non-profit organization at Calvin College. If you wish to give of your time or money to support the CCEL, please visit http://www.ccel.org/give. This PDF file is copyrighted by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. It may be freely copied for non-commercial purposes as long as it is not modified. All other rights are re- served. Written permission is required for commercial use. iv Title Page Title Page i Martin Luther FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE REFORMATION OR THE NINETY-FIVE THESES AND THE THREE PRIMARY WORKS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH 1 Title Page EDITED WITH THEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL INTRODUCTIONS BY HENRY WACE D.D. PREBENDARY OF ST. PAUL’S PREACHER OF LINCOLN’S INN PRINCIPAL OF KING’S COLLEGE LONDON CHAPLAIN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND C. A. BUCHHEIM PH.D. PROFESSOR OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE IN KING’S COLLEGE LONDON WITH A PORTRAIT LONDON JOHN MURRAY. ALBEMARLE STREET 1883 ii LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, Limited, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS iii 2 Prefatory Material PrefatoryAdvertisement Material ADVERTISEMENT. THE purpose and plan of this publication, which has been prompted by the celebration of the fourth centenary of Luther’s birth, is explained in the Introductory Essay. Here it is only necessary to state that, of the works of Luther contained in it, the "Address to the Nobility of the German Nation," which was written in German, has been translated by Professor Buchheim, from the text given in the Erlangen, or Frankfort, Edition. The translation of this work offered very great difficulties, as it was written in Luther’s earliest German style, before the language had been improved, and rendered comparatively definite, by his trans- lation of the Bible. Dr. Buchheim has endeavoured to make it as literal as was compatible with the genius of the English language, and with the necessity of modifying, now and then, some obscure or obsolete expression; and he has offered a few annotations. He desires, at the same time, to express his great obligations to Dr. Wace, who carefully compared his translation with the original work, and whose suggestions have been of great service to him. The Theses, and the two Treatises, "On Christian Liberty," and "On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church," have been translated from the original Latin Text, as given in the Frankfort Edition, by the Rev. R. S. Grignon, to whose generous assistance and accurate scholarship the editors feel greatly indebted. iv v 3 Contents Contents CONTENTS. page THEOLOGICAL INTRODUCTION. By Dr. Wace ix HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. By Professor Buchheim xxxix THE NINETY-FIVE THESES 2 THE THREE PRIMARY WORKS OF LUTHER:— I. ADDRESS TO THE NOBILITY OF THE GERMAN NATION. 1. Dedicatory Letter 17 2. Introduction 18 3. The Three Walls of the Romanists 20 (a) That the Temporal Power has no Jurisdiction over the 21 Spirituality (b) That no one may interpret the Scriptures but the Pope 25 (c) That no one may call a Council but the Pope 28 4. Of the Matters to be considered in the Councils 31 5. Twenty-seven Articles respecting the Reformation of the 44 Christian Estate II. CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. 1. Letter to Pope Leo X. 95 2. That a Christian man is the most free Lord of all, and subject 104 to none 3. That a Christian man is the most dutiful Servant of all, and 118 subject to every one III. ON THE BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY OF THE CHURCH. 1. Introduction 141 2. On the Lord’s Supper 148 3. On Baptism 182 4. On Penance 205 4 Contents 5. On Confirmation 214 6. On Matrimony 215 7. On Orders 227 8. On Extreme Unction 237 vi vii 5 Introductory Essays Introductory Essays INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS 6 I. On the Primary Principles of Luther' Life and Teaching. I. On the Primary Principles of Luther’ Life and Teaching. I ON THE PRIMARY PRINCIPLES OF LUTHER’S LIFE AND TEACHING By Dr. WACE ON THE PRIMARY PRINCIPLES OF LUTHER’S LIFE AND viii TEACHING ix The present publication is offered as a contribution to the due celebration in this country of the fourth Centenary of Luther’s birth. Much has been written about him, and the general history of his life and work is being sketched by able pens. But no adequate attempt has yet been made to let him speak for himself to Englishmen by his greatest and most characteristic writings. The three works which, together with the 95 Theses, are included in this volume, are well known in Germany as the Drei Grosse Reformations-Schriften, or “The Three Great Reformation Treatises” of Luther; but they seem never yet to have been brought in this character before the English public. The Treatise on Christian Liberty has indeed been pre- viously translated, though not of late years. But from an examination of the catalogue in the British Museum, it would appear that no English translation is accessible, even if any has yet been published, of the Address to the German Nobility or of the Treatise on the Babyl- onish Captivity of the Church. Yet, as is well understood in Germany, it is in these that the whole genius of the Reformer appears in its most complete and energetic form. They are bound together in the closest dramatic unity. They were all three produced in the latter half of the critical year 1520, when nearly three years’ controversy, since the publication of the Theses, on Oct. 31 1517, had convinced Luther of the falseness of the Court of Rome, and the hollowness of its claims; and they were immediately followed by the bull of excommu- nication in the winter of the same year, and the summons to the Diet of Worms in 1521. Luther felt, as he says at the commencement of his Address to the German Nobility, that “the time for silence had passed, and the time for speech had come.” He evidently apprehen- x ded that reconciliation between himself and the Court of Rome was impossible; and he ap- pears to have made up his mind to clear his conscience, whatever the cost. Accordingly in these three works he spoke out with a full heart, and with the consciousness that his life was in his hand, the convictions which had been forced on him by the conduct of the Papacy and of the Papal theologians.

Load more

  253

Copy Link