Paul and Roman Theologians Johann Von Staupitz Under Pauline Inspiration

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PAUL AND ROMAN THEOLOGIANS JOHANN VON STAUPITZ UNDER PAULINE INSPIRATION Jared Wicks, S.J. Living in the observant branch of the Augustinian friars in Germany, Johann von Staupitz (ca. 1468–1524) held major leadership posts, was an esteemed preacher, and published works of theologically grounded spiritual edifi cation. Staupitz wrote “theology-for-piety,” to use the term gaining currency in designating the works of numerous fi fteenth and early sixteenth century writers.1 At fi rst the Pauline writings had only a sporadic impact on Staupitz’s works of 1497 to 1512, but Paul became a major infl uence on his teaching in three treatises of 1515–1518. In this trilogy, featured below, Staupitz drew on the Pauline writings to give elegant and forceful instructions on Christ, on God’s prevenient saving grace, and on relating to God in spiritual ardor. Many present-day readers know about Staupitz from his contacts with his younger Augustinian confrere Martin Luther. These contacts came early in Luther’s life in the order, mainly 1508–1511, and were more a matter of personal guidance than of theological instruction. Luther remained appreciative of how Staupitz helped him fi nd spiritual equilibrium in his early years as a friar. Of major historical importance was Staupitz’s decision as Luther’s religious superior that Luther would study for the doctorate and then be assigned to the chair of Sacred Scripture in the University of Wittenberg.2 Johann von Staupitz was born into the Saxon nobility, being a con- temporary of the Prince-Elector, Friedrich the Wise, with whom he may have been in school. Staupitz became Master of Arts in Cologne 1 This genre, pioneered by Jean Gerson (1363–1429), was aptly termed by Bernd Hamm, in Frömmigkeitstheologie am Anfang des 16. Jahrhunderts. Studien zu Johannes von Paltz und seinem Umkreis (Tübingen, 1982). 2 On Staupitz: David C. Steinmetz, Misericordia Dei. The Theology of Johannes von Staupitz in its Late Medieval Setting (Leiden, 1968), and Luther and Staupitz. An Essay in the Intellectual Origins of the Protestant Reformation (Durham, N.C., 1980); Rudolf K. Markwald and Franz Posset, 125 Years of Staupitz Research (Since 1867). An Annotated Bibliography of Studies of Johannes von Staupitz (St. Louis, 1995); Berndt Hamm, “Staupitz, Johann[es] von,” Theologische Realenzyklopädie 32 (2001), 119–127; Franz Posset, The Front-Runner of the Catholic Reformation. The Life and Works of Johann von Staupitz (Aldershot & Burlington, 2003)..

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