Paper Assignment HY-451

8/8/2019 Paper Assignment HY-451

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Taylor Sutherland

HY-451 Early Modern Germany

September 24, 2010

Short Paper Assignment

Martin Luthers ideas in the assigned class readings touch on several

ideals for reform and change in dealing with the interpretation of the Word of God

and faith in the 1500s. In the same general realm of ideas for reform, the

grievance literature assigned in class touches on similar subjects and can be

seen as a comparable call for reform, although it predates Luthers writings by

more then a half century. (Manifestations 3) Both selections of Luther and the

grievance literature touch on some of the same subjects, such as church

corruption concerns, and church practice reforms. Whilst the differences are also

apparent in that the grievance literature has a distinct two-fold purpose of both

religious and social concerns, (Manifestations) while Luther focuses primarily on

the religious aspect of reform. (Freedom) Luther indeed seems to build off some

of the grievance literatures ideas in his writings such as church reform and

corruption, however there is also apparent difference in opinions as well, in terms

of what is trying to be accomplished through the writings.

Church corruption is a central concern in the selected readings in

Manifestations of Discontent in Germany on the Eve of the Reformation, as well

as in the open letter to Pope Leo X before the Freedom of a Christian selection.

The idea that the Holy Father, the pope, and all of our princes have abandoned

the task set them by God (Manifestations 7) is central in the argument built in


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the grievance literature. Certain ideas in the Manifestations of Discontent of

Discontent in Germany on the Eve of the Reformation predate Luthers similar

ideas for reform, such as the idea that Church orders shouldnt play a big role in

government of Christendom since it wasnt specifically mentioned in the

Scriptures. (Manifestations 9) Luther builds upon this idea in reference to pulling

his ideals from direct scripture and not from additional practices not instituted by

Jesus Christ himself. (Pagan 326) Luther goes forth in several of his selected

writings mentioning and condemning certain aspects of the Churches practices

as inventions or accidents of the Church. (Pagan 287) Indeed a good example

of Luthers belief stemming from this idea of biblical literalism can be found in his

writings in Pagan Servitude of the Church on page 326 in reference to his

denouncement of Marriage as an official church sacrament. He begins the

section with There is no Scriptural warrant whatsoever for regarding marriage as

a sacrament then goes on to say that Yet, no one calls marriage of unbelievers

a sacrament. His denouncement of marriage as a sacrament due to lack of

biblical reference has parallels in the grievance literature in the idea of letting

priest take wives since their was a lack of biblical evidence to deny such a right.

(Manifestations 14)

The Catholic Church in general was first on the itemized list of reform

suggestions in Manifestations of Discontent in Germany on the Eve of

Reformation to be critiqued and relatively demonized. (Manifestations 1-19)

However, the concerns in this selection of the grievance literature had a wider

concern for church reform, which was the social aspect of reform such as the


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cost of papal seals (Manifestations 9), the cost of running a church

(Manifestations 15), or the specific structure suggested for a Bishops rule.

(Manifestations 11) This differs from Martin Luthers ideas for Church reform,

since he was far more concerned with the actual religious importance of

reforming the church, and he even went as far to give up on the church itself for a

time after deeming it an impossible task to reform it (Freedom 47).

Early in the Manifestations of Discontent in Germany on the Eve of

Reformation, I found a statement said almost as a fact that Luther would have

disagreed with, in which the author says, A reformation cannot succeed in the

empire unless imposed by force with the pain of punishment. (Manifestations 6)

Luthers response to a statement such as this would have referenced his belief of

a two-fold man, spiritual and physical. (Freedom 53) In Freedom of a Christian he

goes on to remark that, none of these things touch either the freedom or the

servitude of the soul (Freedom 54) he says this in regards to the inner and outer

man, claiming that physical events do not affect the soul or dealings with God.

(Freedom 53-57) So Luthers remark to the previously mentioned statement from

Manifestations would involve his belief that no physical works are relevant, or

necessary in the Reformation, or of dealings with God, only through spiritual

means can we do this. (Freedom 53-57)

The grievance literature makes another general point in regards to

serfdom and slavery that Martin Luther would have disagreed with. In

Manifestations in the section of Justice and Punishment the author writes that it

was an outrage that in Christendom today you could claim someone as


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property, and that God had removed all bonds of us. (Manifestations 24) Luther

could have responded with the idea of the two-fold man, claiming that a man

could own your physical body, however there was nothing that a man could do to

own your inner-body, or soul. (Freedom 54) Even more closer to the point would

be Luthers statement on the same page of, It is evident that no eternal thing has

any influence in producing Christian righteousness or freedom, or in producing

unrighteousness or servitude. (Freedom 54) Therefore Luther would have

disagreed with Manifestations, and said that there was no reason to do

something about your outer-man, you just need your inner-man for salvation.

(Freedom 57)

In general there are many issues that the grievance literature covers that

Luther picks up on in his writings, such as Church Corruption and biblical

literalism in regards to Christian religious practice. (Manifestations 6, 9) However,

there are small differences as well that seem to contrast between Luther and the

grievance literature such as Luthers more radical idea of the two-fold man and

how external stimuli have no effect on the soul. (Freedom 53-57) In comparison

to the idea of needing violence for any kind of reform to occur. (Manifestations 6)

I could be said that grievance literature blazed the trail for Luther in terms of

religious reform, but it is apparent from the readings mentioned in this paper that

Luther didnt necessarily agree with all the grievance literatures ideas, they both

just happened to be writing for reform in a similar time, with sometimes similar

opinions regarding then current religious issues.


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Paper Assignment HY-451

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