Luther made his profession as a monk in September 1506 and was ordained a priest in 1507. He had studied a treatise on the canon of the mass by a famous Nominalist Gabriel Biel who claimed that only ‘named particulars’ exist and that ‘universal concepts are formed through intuition’. Luther was awed by this.
Luther then went to Wittenberg University as he was selected for advanced theological studies. Many of his teachers were nominalists of what was described as the ‘modern way’ and followed the English philosopher William Ockham whose ideas pushed aside the ones of scholasticism which was founded in the 11th century. In 1508 when Luther was attending this university though ‘Ockhamism’ existed it had a lot of opposition especially by one scholar called Martin Pollich. The Schlosskirche (The Church of All Saints) worked closely with the university and Frederick the wise, elector of Saxony who played a key role in Luther’s protection in later life, provided a generous patronage for both the church and university.
Over the next few years Luther took two degrees; baccalaureus biblicus and sententiarus. The latter was a study of ‘sentences’, a medieval theological textbook by Peter Lombard. He began teaching a course about Arisotle’s Nicomachean Ethics but then changed to being a lecturer on the ‘sentences’.
Luther also took a lot of influence from Johann von Staupitz who was the vicar general of the Augustinian monks. Staupitz himself was trained as a ‘Thomist’ (realist) but was also influenced by the Augustinian ways of the order. In his writings he also shows influence from German mysticism. Staupitz was the man who sent Luther to Rome.
Luther went to Rome in 1510 and was shocked by the wealth, lavish expense and general corruption of the roman clergy (‘Mercenary natures of the church’).He believed it didn’t show religious faith, but faith in religious leaders. The papacy in the early 16th century had all the characteristics of a state- palaces and democracy, as well as wielding military power. Luther recognized the men at the top of the church as rough, ruthless and unspiritial business men, and the cynicism Luther felt towards about the church, this soon led into the prison of his own anguish. Luther returned shocked and loyally supported Staupitz. While Staupitz had taken Luther under his wing, Luther’s own theological ideas were forming. He had delved into the search for ‘evangelical perfection’. He soon entered above his depth, and found himself fighting uncertainties and bearing huge burdens of guilt which neither penance (sacramental consolations) nor the advice of his mentors could release his guilt. He spent his time in a constant state of anxiety and despair. The Ockhamist theology no longer satisfied Luther as it encouraged moralism and put emphasis on the human will and most importantly left gaping holes where Luther needed his reassurance. This period of his life entered temptation (Anfechtung) into his theology. It suggested a fight for faith. Staupitz commented that these experiences were ‘meat and drink’ to Luther. Luther’s inward spiritual difficulties were made greater by his own theological problems.
Luther then experienced his ideas of the ‘righteousness of God’. His strict and distressing childhood had emphasised to him the awareness of God’s judgement. Through finding justice in the Nicomachean Ethics, Luther became to think of Gods justice being ‘primarily active’.
Luther had a sense of failure of not obeying the law and a distinct feeling of hypocrisy that moral theologians describe as driving him to the brink of blasphemy.
In 1512 he was appointed professor of biblical studies at the University of Wittenberg (north of Leipzig) At this point Luther thought the accepted ideas had strayed too far away from the original teachings of the bible. He followed the teachings of St Augustine of Hippo which was based on that of St. Paul’s teaching that man could only be saved on Gods’ mercy, anything else he could do accounted for nothing. This is justification through faith. Luther believed that because man was so ‘inherently evil’, that no amount of good works can make him acceptable in the eyes of God. The only way is through the individuals faith in God, that they may be justified, hence justification by faith. The trip to Rome prompted Luther’s theologies to develop. To receive salvation you had to hold out your hands, and the interception of the churches, sermons and bishops was strictly unnecessary. His ideas drove more towards the image of you and god, and further away from the churches intervention, which he now bitterly resented.
In Luther’s translation of the bible, he came to add the word ‘alone’ after the word ‘faith’ (Sola fide) to the verse of Rom.3:28. (‘For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law’). He felt it was demanded of by the German language.
Luther’s theological fundamental grew and developed through the years of 1514, 1515 and 1516 as he became a preacher in the parish church, where Luther translated and expounded the scriptures for the common people and related them to the context of their everyday lives. In April 1515 he became vicar of over 11 more houses. This gave him practical and useful experience for the future years in which his care was entrusted to look after needy souls and look after the German churches.
In 1516 Luther took charge of a new agenda of displacing Aristotle and scholastic theologians by biblical humanism was which was a direct study of the bible. This was planned with his senior colleague Karlstadt and a younger friend Melanchton. Luther began to break away from specific groups and to concentrate more on his own thinking.
Luther moved into heavy analysis and translation of the original Greek and Hebrew scriptures, which led him to discard many original sections of the Catholic doctrine.
In 1517 Luther finalised his theories which he formed into 95 thesis to which he nailed to the door of Wittenberg castle. The sale of indulgences and John Tetzel had angered Luther and given him the confidence and belief to share his views with the world. He firmly believed that salvation was a gift from God and the Church could not intervene and grant it. This was just the beginning of what was described as ‘A blistering attack on the greatest power of the day.’
Over the years Luther was exposed to nomalism, scholasticism and humanism to which he studied and partially agreed. All the theories gave Luther strength to form his own group of beliefs. His education and strict formal religious upbringing all contributed to the theology he concluded, but is almost certain that no-one expected his beliefs to explode the Western Christian world.
Abigail Morrish 12A Mr Ross
