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History Notes Luther and the German Reformation Notes

Luther And Carlstadt Sources Notes

Updated Luther And Carlstadt Sources Notes

Luther and the German Reformation Notes

Luther and the German Reformation

Approximately 514 pages

These notes contain all the work that I did during the term on the Oxford University module: Luther and the German Reformation.

They include extremely detailed notes on Luther's writings in relation to the following topics:
The 95 Theses and the Early Reformation
1520 Treatises
Luther and Carlstadt
The Peasants' War
Anabaptists and Spiritualists
Jews, Turks and the Devil
Marriage
Biographies of Luther

The notes contain extensive background reading in addition to notes on the relevan...

The following is a more accessible plain text extract of the PDF sample above, taken from our Luther and the German Reformation Notes. Due to the challenges of extracting text from PDFs, it will have odd formatting:

Luther and Carlstadt Class ! Passional Christ und Antichristi (1521) ! Melanchthon writes the text and Cranach produces the images ! Luther is in Wartburg -- just after Worms ! Same artist who did Carlstadt's wagon ! Comparison of the lives of Christ and the pope *> Knowledge of Christ's life would aid understanding of the pamphlet ! Opposites *> Heaven v. Hell *> Christ v. pope => seen in these images *> Christ teaching among the peasants v. fat pope surrounded by luxury and an elect group of people ! Print form of propaganda -- images and text *> Very different from Carlstadt's wagon Fairly cheap ! ! ! Carlstadt's pamphlet against Luther has no image *> Expensive -- only one edition ! ! Supreme Virtue of Gelassenheit -- 2 main parts *> Outlines his persecution-- martyr figure *> Gelassenheit -- devotio moderna Removal v. involvement in society e.g. priesthood of all believers ! ! ! 1520 v. 1525 *> Luther was not mentioned in the tract of 1520 -- much discussion of Luther in 1525 *> Gelassenheit v. helping neighbour -- not detachment *> Gelassenheit v. later involvement of the Holy Spirit *> Attacks Luther's luxurious clothing -- Carlstadt has changed as he used to wear these clothes ! Infant baptism is seen as an unbreakable vow in the 1520 tract *> Yet he speaks against it in 1525 ! Exsurge domine was released before Gelassenheit tract *> Carlstadt is therefore coming to terms with the possibility of martyrdom in this tract -- anxiety ! ! Anfechtung *> Struggle with the Devil *> Part of human nature? *> Luther -- mark of attack by the Devil ! ! Spirit v. flesh *> Carlstadt sees material as not useful -- leave them behind *> Can conform to God's will -- Luther does not think that you can ! Luther is so negative about humanity => actually less concerned with sins of the flesh etc. ! Luther -- law is written on our hearts ! ! Was Carlstadt traditionalist? ! ! ! ! *> Lay devotion and detachment - Anchoresses and hermits *> Forceful detachment -- self--examination *> Yet very negative experience Monastic nostaligia At the same time as writing on the breaking of monastic vows Can be seen as liberating Point at which Carlstadt stops using his doctor title *> Chooses to look like a peasant ! ! Good Christians should care for beggars *> Redirection of money from images to the poor ! ! Leisnig -- practical measures *> Specific on what needs to happen *> Yet Wittenberg had the first ordinance ! ! Muntzer -- defence of the power of dreams *> Contrasted with Luther and his luxury *> Women might have powers ! Confrontation at the Black Bear ! Christmas 1521 -- Zwickau Prophets entered Wittenberg *> Direct revelation of the Holy Spirit ! Carlstadt -- Luther feels that he believes in his own righteousness => distances man from God ! 4 years building up to this debate ! 1520 -- Carlstadt's lectures on James => Luther criticised it ! 1521 -- Carlstadt and Melanchthon put reforms into place in Wittenberg ! Became pastor in Orlamunde ! Confrontation is a tipping point ! Carlstadt becomes part of the 'other' -- group of people against Luther *> Defamatory association with the Zwickau Prophets Token of the gulden -- Carlstadt could publish ! *> Ritual *> Radicalised their separation *> Show of power from Luther *> Beginning of direct attacks against each other ! Elevating the host -- Luther wants it merely because Carlstadt does not *> Luther abolishes it immediately after Carlstadt dies ! Luther could argue that Carlstadt is not doing his university job *> Carlstadt wants to be in Orlamunde ! Tactic of associating Carlstadt and Muntzer *> Stops people taking Carlstadt's view of the sacrament ! Luther and Carlstadt Gobbets Class ! Carlstadt -- 'bound and struck' ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! *> Reminiscent of Christ *> Look for metaphors First paragraph of gobbets -- context and major issues *> e.g. wider question on peasant serfdom -- were peasants using religion? Peasants' war -- revolution of the common man with godly law radicalising them? *> Is there sufficient evidence for this? *> Not written by all of the peasants What is the problem with the source? *> e.g. Black Bear Inn -- written by Carlstadt's friend Can always ask about language and the problems of the source *> e.g. don't know who wrote the Ordinance of a Common Chest at Leisnig Many different reformations -- concoction to society *> Begging Early modern structures of thought -- inverses *> Passional Christ und Antichristi -- Melanchthon and Cranach (1521) *> Stuart Clark -- Thinking with demons *> Oral culture -- learn through preaching, songs etc. - Yet the language is very visual - Carlstadt is the first to use images as propaganda yet he was the first iconoclast Very aware of the power of images and their ambiguity Wrote 55 pages on his wagon propaganda Carlstadt moves to German before Luther God of the Reformation is wrathful *> Luther often uses the Old Testament Carlstadt rejects crucifixes -- hardest example as he could use a saints' image and this would be easier to refute *> Will not lead beyond the flesh *> Luther is still upset by this -- may favour a slightly more emotional Reformation Carlstadt -- does he see images and beggars as the same? *> Both invoke a reaction -- not proper charity *> Emotional v. economic impact *> Confused about his attitude to money -- later stops wearing luxurious clothes *> Late to condemn indulgences University of Wittenberg partly financed by relics => fund Luther Carlstadt -- value and dignity of labour ! ! Compare peasants at Orlamunde with how they are referred to by Luther *> Peasants' voices at Leiznig -- but they are council ordinances *> Compare with the peasant articles ! Preface -- Suggestions on how to deal with ecclesiastical property (1523) ! Wants there to be a great decline in existing foundations ! Against greed of repossession -- wishes to close down monasteries in an organised way ! 'monkery and clericalism, as they have been for the past 400 years, serve no useful purpose and are nothing but harmful error and deception' ! Allow people to leave of free will and governing authority should stop new applicants ! Governing authorities should take over property ~ Support remaining inmates ~ Give those who leave sufficient funds ~ Devote all the remaining property to the common fund of a common chest -- gifts and loans could be made in Christian love to all the needy ! ! Will be fulfilling aim of serving God -- 'Now there is no greater service of God than Christian love which helps and serves the needy, as Christ himself will judge and testify at the Last Day, Matthew 25 [:31--46]. This is why the possessions of the church were formerly called bona ecclesiae, that is, common property, a common chest, as it were, for all who were needy among the Christians' ! Christian love must judge who needs money ! Mendicant houses in cities should be converted into schools for boys and girls ! 'If God were to grant that these suggestions be carried out, not only would we have a well--filled common chest for every need, but three crying evils would diminish and eventually cease. The first of these is begging, which does so much harm to land and people in soul and property. The second is the terrible misuse of the ban, which serves no other purpose than to torture people in the interest of the possessions of priests and monks. If they had no possessions, there would be no need of this ban. The third is this cursed zinss contract, the biggest usury on earth, which up to now has asserted its validity even in the matter of ecclesiastical properties -- there above all' ! Would be happy if only a couple followed him ! 'The world must remain the world and Satan its prince' ! Fraternal Agreement on the Common Chest of the Entire Assembly at Leisnig ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Will follow those learned in Scripture Masters and mistresses are to ensure that servants and children hear God's word An assembly of the whole parish will punish those who sin and offend against God Have 'ordained, established and set up a common chest' 'We, the parish assembly, by virtue of our universal priesthood, have always had and should have had the full right and authority, which we reserve wholly to ourselves and in no way relinquish, to acquire all properties and rights' All shall be 'included without exception in the common chest and there remain' 4 chapels and masses for the dead etc. will be turned over to the common chest Should always be 2 barrels or casks for bread, cheese etc. and a box for coins for the common chest Perishable food should be distributed by appointees What is not perishable is to be distributed on the following Sunday Each year the parish assembly will elect 10 trustees or directors for the common chest ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ~ 2 from nobility, 2 from city council, 3 from common citizens of the town and 3 from the rural peasantry The chest 'shall be provided with 4 separate and distinct locks, each having its own key, so that the nobility shall have one of the keys, the council another, the town citizenry the third and the rural peasantry the fourth' 2 building supervisors -- shall solicit alms for the support of the poor No begging from monks, church beggars, students or men and women in general 'No men or women beggars shall be tolerated in our parish, either in the city or in the villages, since anyone not incapacitated by reason of age or illness shall work or, with the aid of the authorities, be expelled from the parish, the city and the villages. But those among us who are impoverished by force of circumstances, or are unable to work because of old age or illness, shall be supported in suitable fashion by the ten officials out of the common chest as follows.' Payment for pastor, sacristan, schoolmaster etc. ~ Also for instructing girls under 12 'Diligent inquiry and investigation' into the state of the poor Training of orphans and dowries For good of the parish -- shall 'buy up and set aside a good quantity of grain and peas in storehouses which belong to the council and the entire parish' Shall give taxes to it when there is not enough in the chest Hold general parish assembly 3 times a year ! Instructions for the visitors of parish pastors in Electoral Saxony -- not prescribed ! ! Holy bishops should visit parishes -- should benefit the area rather than being a show of ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! secular pomp Spiritual unity to keep the Devil out Issue of teaching of faith -- need to emphasise repentance and forgiveness of sins => both needed Grief and contrition => forgiven sins Sinful not to pray ~ God has promised to hear us ~ Pray for both spiritual and temporal things Keep the Sabbath holy -- should do things such as learning the Word of God Honour parents yet parents are responsible for children Honour government and priesthood God lets no wickedness go unpunished Matt 26.52 -- 'For all who take the sword will perish by the sword' Should be grateful to government -- would be grateful to someone who had saved your child from death etc. 'Citizens are to be diligently instructed not to be less obedient and subject toward harsh government' St Peter -- 'Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right' Each shall follow their national law All tribulation, including that of body, is sent from God Children are to be baptised ! The water in baptism signifies penitence, contrition and sorrow ! ! People are to be taught that it is right to receive both bread and wine ! 'It is to be remembered that so great a miracle happens through no merit of the priest ! ! ! ! ! ! but because Christ has ordained that when we commune his body is present, just as the sun rises daily without any merit of ours but solely since God has so ordained' All should learn these things Should make allowances for those weak in faith -- allow them to have one kind of sacrament for the time being Teach the reason for the use of the sacrament God has shown such anger over sin that he has brought death to his only Son Sacrament promises righteousness ! 'Penance also is to be reckoned as a sacrament -- all sacraments are a kind of penance' ! 'For true faith cannot exist where there is not true contrition and true fear and terror ! ! before God' 'So, the first part of penance is contrition and sorrow. The second part is faith that the sins will be forgiven on Christ's account' Papal confession is not commanded and is impossible -- who can discern all errors? Should be examined before going to the holy sacrament => then they are exhorted to make confession Christ has made satisfaction for our sins Should awaken people to fear -- only Christ can make satisfaction for us ! ! ! ! Do not do away with all holy days Teaching of the Gospel is divided into different parts of the year Reasonable and useful to use German where most people do not understand Latin Aroused to faith and good works by the example of the saints ! ! ! ! ! ! 'Man has in his own power a freedom of the will to do or not to do external works, ! ! ! ! ! ! regulated by law and punishment' If a man effects righteousness then he has a certain freedom to refuse evil Hindered by the devil -- driven to sin Man is weak and miserable when he does not seek help from God Issue of Christian freedom ~ Some think they need no government and even that they need pay no taxes ~ Others think they can eat meat, refrain from confession and fasting etc. ~ Wild illusions Christian freedom is the forgiveness of sins through Christ ~ Devil is waiting to prod people into vice and crime ~ People should be constrained to fear and faith ! Should oppose the Turks -- 'For the government is given the power of the sword and commanded to punish all murder and pillage and murder. Therefore it is obligated to wage war against those who start an unjust war and are responsible for pillage and murder. This vengeance is not forbidden' ! 'For a devout man would much rather see his children dead than have to adopt Turkish customs'

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