MARTINUS NOSTER LUTHER IN THE GERMAN REFORM MOVEMENT 1518-1521 BY LEIF GRANE VERLAG PHILIPP VON ZABERN • MAINZ 1994 CONTENTS PREFACE XI INTRODUCTION 1 Luther's position in the first year of the contest 1-2. The question of German humanism in relation to the Reformation 24. The purpose of this book 4-5. A survey of the contents 5-8. I. THE BACKGROUND 9 A survey of the events of the first year (1517-18), 9-10. 1. Luther's Environment 10 The account of Luther's activity in Wittenberg until 1520 by Johannes Dolsch 11-16. Luther's early contacts outside Wittenberg 16-19. 2. Pro re theologica et salutefratrum 19 Theology and pastoral care belong together according to Luther 19-20. Luther's first adversaries and the question of authority 20-23. 3. Papalism becomes a Problem (Cajetan) 2b The sources for the meeting at Augsburg - and the reasons for its failure 23-26. The unfortunate circumstances of Cajetan's mission 26-29. 4. Reform Theology 29 The longing for reform - and Luther's writings 29-30. The patristic wave in Germany 30-35. Erasmus and Capito on the question of papal power 36-37. 5. After Augsburg 38 Cajetan and Unigenitus 38-39. The idea of Antichrist in Rome 39. The draft of a letter to Pope Leo X 40-42.. Luther's reaction to the papal Breve Cum postquam 42-43. His awareness of the »Zeitgeist« 43-44. n. THE PREPARATION FOR THE LEIPZIG DISPUTATION 45 1. Preliminaries 45 The Karlstadt-Eck contest 45-46. The preface to Karlstadt's theses in the Froben edition of Luther's works 47. The proposal for a disputation 47-48. Luther's involvement 48-50. VI Contents 2. Proposition 12 (13) 50 Eck's and Luther's theses on the papacy and Luther's interpretation of the new situation 50-52. The letter to the reader in the May edition of Luther's theses 52- 55. Luther's awareness of the support of the elector and of the learned 56-57. A letter from Leo X 57. 3. The Existence of the Papacy as the will of God 57 Luther's reasons for acknowledging the Pope 57-59. 4. Matthew 16:18-19 and John 21:17 59 Matt.16; 59-60. John 21:17; 61-62. 5. Studies in Canon Law 62 Luther's confutation of eight decrees from Decretum Gratiani 62-68, and of two decretals from Liber extra 68-72. 6. Patristic and Historical Arguments against the Divine Right of the Papacy 72 Explanation of the wording of proposition 13, 72-75. Patristic arguments against the divine right of the papacy 75-76. Historical arguments 76-79. Luther's conclusion 79-80. III. THE LEIPZIG DISPUTATION 81 1. Prologue 81 The necessity of a chapter on the debate concerning the papacy 81-82. Some remarks on Duke Georg, the rivalry between Wittenberg and Leipzig, and nego- tiations about the verdict on the disputation 82-83. The agreement on subject and sources 83-84. Methodological differences 84-86. 2. The Militant Church. The Testimony of Scripture and the Church Fathers 86 The ecclesiology of the two combatants 86-88. The importance of the tradition for both of them 89-90. Their way of interpreting the Bible, illustrated by two examples 90-93. The same problems concerning the interpretation of the fathers 93-96. Discussion of Cyprian 96-97. Of Jerome 97-98. Of Augustine 98-99. A conflict between scholasticism and the new learning 100. 3. The Authority of the General Council - and the Council of Constance 100 Luther accused of the Bohemian heresy 100-101, and of turning against the council of Constance 101-102. Luther's attempts to defend himself 102-103. The council as a creatura verbi 103. Luther's difficulties and the reciprocal accusations 103-105. 4. Which Tradition? 105 The debate concerning the position of the Greek church 105-108. Eck's advan- tage concerning the council of Constance 108. The necessity of the monarchical structure according to Eck - and Luther's reaction 109-110. The disagreement concerning the New Testament 110-113. Contents VTJ IV. AFTER LEIPZIG 115 The polemical activity after Leipzig 115. The increase in Luther's writing to the people 115-116, and to the learned 116. The impact of Luther's writing-116-117. 1. Luther and Eck 118 Eck's lack of effect in the post-Leipzig debate 118. His bad reputation 118-119. The letters to the Elector from Eck and Luther/Karlstadt 120-121. Luther's letter of dedication in the Resolutumes to his Leipzig theses and Eck's response 121-122. Luther's Epistola super Expurgatione Ecciana 123-125. Luther's answer to Eck's annotations to the Juterbog articles and Eck's response 125-126. The aims of the two combatants 126. 2. Reports from Friends and Enemies 127 Melanchthon and Eck 127-130. Johannes Cellarius on the disputation 130-132. Peter Mosellan to Pirckheimer and Julius Pflug 132-134. The opinion of some learned men 134-135. Eck to Hochstraten and the Wittenberg use of Eck's letter 135-136. The effect of this debate 136. 3. Wittenberg in Action 137 The position of the Wittenberg university 137. Pirckheimer's praise of the Wittenbergers 137-138. Melanchthon and Luther's Biblical commentaries 138- 140. Lutheran imprints in Leipzig 140. Pro-Lutheran publications in Leipzig 140- 143. Wittenberg in the autumn of 1519,143-145. V. THE SUPPORT FOR LUTHER 147 Introductory remarks 147-149. 1. The Approval of Luther. Centres and Persons 149 Erfurt 149-151. Nurnberg 151-154. Augsburg 154-155. Constance 155. Basel 156. Ulrich Zasius 156-157. Martin Bucer 157. Strasbourg 157-158. Schlettstadt 158- 160. Luther's impact 160-161. 2. The Approval of Luther. Extent and Content 161 Christoph Scheurl 161-162. Erasmus 162. Other observers 162-164. Luther as •Martinus noster* 164. The meaning of the approval? 165. Some examples: Johann von Botzheim, Veit Bild, Konrad Peutinger, 165-166. 3. Erasmus 167 The ambivalence in Erasmus' view of Luther 167-168. Early remarks on Luther 168-169. Erasmus' »first Luther campaign* 169-171. The letter to Albert of Brandenburg 172-173. 4. Literary Support 173 The interpretation of Erasmus on the background of Luther's contest 173-174. Canonici indocti Lutherani 174-178. Spenglers »Schutzrede« 178-179. Modus in- quirendi haereticos 179-183. Nicholas of Clemanges, De corrupto ecclesue statu 183- 184. Other examples of re-use 185. Hermann von Neuenahr and Jakob Sob to Charles V 185-186. A dialogue between Erasmus, Reuchlin and Faber, and three theologians from Cologne 186-187. Luther as part of a movement 187. VIII Contents VI. THE GROWING TENSION. LUTHER, THE HUMANISTS AND THE »MAGISTRI NOSTRI* 189 1. The Condemnation by Cologne and Louvain 190 The difficulties of Erasmus 190-191. The Louvain condemnation 191-192. Co- logne 192. Luther's response 192-194. Johannes Dolsch 194-195. Crotus Rubea- nus 195-196. 2. The Action against Luther's Sermon on the Eucharist 196 The displeasure in ducal Saxony and the episcopal mandate 196-197. Luther's two responses 197-199. The different attitudes to this case 199-201. 3. Reuchlin - Erasmus - Luther. Different Aims and Common Enemies 201 The three names as symbols of the reform party 201-202. The position of Reuch- lin 202-204. The second »Lutheran campaign* of Erasmus 204-207. The •Common-Enemies-View* in some pamphlets 207-208. 4. Pamphlet War 208 Some general remarks on the polemical literature in 1520 208-210. The attitude of Erasmus 210. Editions of church fathers and of collected quotations used against the scholastic party 210-211. Re-use of other writings 211-212. Eccius de- dolatus 212-213. Decoctio and Eckius monachus 213. Hochstraten ovans 214-215. More on Hochstraten 215-216. Pasquillus exul 216-218. Lamentationes Germaniae nationis 219-220. 5. Luther and Wittenberg: Increasing Indignation - and Impact 220 The situation in Wittenberg 220-221. Melanchthons's Pauline studies 221. Antichrist and the expectation of the Bull 221-223. Prierias' Epitome 223-224. Luther's indignation and confidence in the late summer of 1520 224-226. 6. Friends and Enemies, Old and New 226 Emser and Johann Fabri 226-227. Urbanus Rhegius and Joachim Vadian 227. New Testament lectures in Leipzig and Erfurt 227-228. The support still undimi- nished 228-229. VII. THE RECEPTION OF EXSURGE DOMINE 231 Introductory remarks 231-232 1. Exsurge Domine 232 The composition of the Bull 232-233. The articles on »ceremonies« 234-235. The articles on sin and free will 235. On the papacy and the council 235-236. The treatment of Luther and his books 236-237. 2. The Reception of the Bull 237 The reaction among Luther's adherents and sympathizers 237-240. Aleander's evaluation of the atmosphere in Germany 240-242. Capito's position 242-243. 3. The Contribution of Erasmus 243 Erasmus' worries 243-245. Consilium cuiusdam 245-248. The delicate situation of Erasmus 248-249. Contents IX 4. The Resistance 250 The importance of Erasmus and Hutten 250-251. The continued dominance by the reform party of the book market 251. The efforts of Ulrich von Hutten 252. Dialogus Bulla 252-253. Declaratio quorundam aniculorum and its German translation with additions 253. Paul Phrygio: Oratio de virtute clavium etc. 253- 255. Simon Hessus: Apology for the condemnation of the 41 articles 255. Oecolampadius: ludicium de Martina Luthero 255-256. Johannes Cellarius' ludicium 256-257. Acta academiae Lovaniensis contra Lutherum 257-259. A collec- tion of anti-Aleander pamphlets 259. Udelo Cymber Cusanus 260-261.