Book Review on “Christian Nobility of the German Nation” by Martin Luther.
Martin Luther’s Christian Nobility of the German Nation is a text of great value for its theological and ecumenical value to the Church. In 1517, Luther began the reformation in Germany through releasing his famous 95 Theses which outlined issues he held against the Catholic Church. In the passing years, Luther became more outspoken in his grievances against the Church. When his work Christian Nobility of the German Nation was released in 1520, Luther was uninhibited in expressing his dismays with the authority of the Church as he called the secular rulers to reform religion. [1] Ultimately, Luther’s letter calls the laity to rise and lead the Church, dismissing both the authority of the clergy, Magisterial interpretation of the Scriptures, and the significance of councils. [2] This text provides important context and background to many of the theological beliefs of the Lutheran Church, as well as Protestantism as a whole.
Throughout his work, Luther calls the laity to greater involvement within Christianity, while attacking the leadership of the Catholic or “Romanist” Church. Luther is clearly opposed to the authority of the papacy and sees this office as a threat to authentic Christianity. Luther unpacks three primary issues or “walls” which he believes the “Romanists” hide behind. These walls are as follows: the distinction between temporal and spiritual power, the claim that only the Pope can interpret Scripture, and the claim that only the Pope can call a council. [3] In detail, Luther derails each of these issues and provides Scriptural evidence to counter these Catholic claims. Ultimately, Luther derails all authority of the clergy and the hierarchy of the Church, claiming there is no distinction between temporal and spiritual power; as a result, the clergy should be seen as equal to the laity and the royalty. Luther considers ordination to be insignificant, regarding the papacy, the office of bishop, and the priesthood to be mere offices which individuals can occupy. Luther esteems the powers which individuals gain through Baptism, claiming this allows them to be priest or bishop. [4] Luther does not respect the Papacy or the current pope's of the age; as a result, he does not value the Papal authority to call councils or interpret Scripture. Lastly, Luther believes it is to the individual Christian to interpret the Scriptures, not the Magisterium. [5]
The information found in Luther’s letter is very significant since it provides necessary insight upon Luther and his mindset for the Reformation. As one of the first of the Reformation leaders, Luther provided a foundation for this movement which resulted in terrible division within Christianity. This letter reveals Luther’s opposition to authority within the Church which allowed him to have the self-autonomy to create his own church. Thus, a strength of this letter is that it provides a helpful background for Lutheranism, as well as Protestantism as a whole, by sharing their beliefs on authority within the Church. Many of the points which Luther asserted -- such as the insignificance of ordination or the clergy, as well as the importance of individual interpretation of Scripture -- are still held by today’s Lutherans and Protestants. Further, traces of Luther’s key “faith alone” doctrine can be perceived from this text. [6] As a result, one perceives the drastic impact which Luther, his letter, and his viewpoints had upon the modern world.
Without a doubt, a significant weakness of Luther’s letter is its clear anti-Catholic bias. Luther is strongly opposed to the Church in his writing and speaks harshly as he directly attacks the Church. [7] While this work provides a helpful historical outlook on the state of the Church in the 1500’s, this work is somewhat limited to that period of history. Many of Luther’s remarks upon the Papacy and the position of the Church are no longer relevant, since the Church has since reformed itself and changed its structure. For example, the Church today highly regards the baptismal priesthood of each Christian, as well as the importance of the laity reading the Scriptures, while Magisterial interpretation is still revered. Indeed, some of Luther’s points against the Church can be reconciled with Catholicism through a more precise understanding of current Church doctrine. Thus, Luther’s work provides a background for the historical time in which it was written, while some parts of his work are no longer relevant to the Church today.
In closing, I would certainly recommend one read Luther’s letter to gain an insight to one of the most important founders of the Reformation. This letter is truly valuable due to its ecumenical and theological significance. Luther’s work provides the framework for the rise of Protestantism and the beginnings of the Reformation through the denial of Church authority. Hence, I would recommend one reads Luther’s work, while carefully sorting through his anti-Catholic bias and negativity towards the Church. After all, in order to best understand the Protestant movement, we must first understand the views of their founders. Thus, Luther provides a helpful insight to Lutheranism and its future theological implications.
Product Details:
Title: Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate (1520)
Author: Martin Luther
Source: Stanford University
Pages: 7
Link: https://web.stanford.edu/~jsabol/certainty/readings/Luther-ChristianNobility.pdf
Endnotes
[1] "Imperial Election of 1519 and the Diet of Worms,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Imperial-election-of-1519-and-the-Diet-of-Worms
[2] Martin Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation
Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate (1520),” Stanford, pdf.
[3] Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility,” 1-2.
[4] Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility,” 2-3.
[5] Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility,” 3-4.
[6] Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility,” 1.
[7] Luther, “Open Letter to the Christian Nobility,” 1.
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