Stefan Rhein

Irene Dingel

Armin Kohnle

Ernst-Joachim Waschke

Das Reformationsjubiläum lenkt den Blick nicht nur auf Martin Luther als Person, Universitätsprofessor, Theologe und Prediger, sondern auch auf die Bedingungen, die sein Wirken ermöglichten, sowie auf das Umfeld, in dem er agierte. Dafür sind die Anfänge der Reformation und der Ort der "Initia Reformationis", Wittenberg, von besonderem Interesse. Die in diesem Band versammelten Beiträge widmen sich den Kontexten, den entwicklungsgeschichtlichen Bedingungen sowie den durch die frühe Reformation freigesetzten Impulsen und deren – langfristiger – Wirkung. Die übergreifenden politischen, theologischen, frömmigkeits- und mediengeschichtlichen Bedingungen kommen ebenso zur Sprache wie das Leben in der Stadt und der Universität Wittenberg als Mikrokosmos der frühen Reformation. Mit Beiträgen von Rosemarie Aulinger, Enno Bünz, Livia Cárdenas, Irene Dingel, Thomas Fuchs, Mirko Gutjahr, Christiane Hennen, Armin Kohnle, Volker Leppin, Ulrike Ludwig, Heiner Lück, Marcel Nieden, Stefan Oehmig, Wolf-Friedrich Schäufele, Johannes Schilling, Uwe Schirmer und Christopher Spehr. [Initia Reformationis. Wittenberg and the Early Reformation] The anniversary of the Reformation directs our attention not only to Martin Luther as a person, university professor, theologian and preacher, but also to the conditions which made his impact possible, as well as the milieu in which he was acting. For exploring these topics the beginnings of the Reformation and the locale in which they took place, Wittenberg, are of particular interest. The essays collected in this volume are dedicated to the context, the conditions in which these historical factors developed, as well as the impulses that were set in motion by the early Reformation and their – long-term – impact. The overarching political and theological conditions, and the associated aspects in popular piety and media, are discussed alongside life in the town and at the university of Wittenberg as a microcosmos of the early Reformation.

Wittenberg und die frühe Reformation

Initia Reformationis

Im Majoristischen Streit (1552-1570) ging es um den Stellenwert ethischen Handelns im Leben eines Christen. Georg Major vertrat im Rückgriff auf Aussagen seines Lehrers Philipp Melanchthon die These, dass gute Werke zur Seligkeit nötig seien und niemand ohne gute Werke selig werden könne. Weil er befürchtete, diese zumindest höchst missverständlich formulierte These könne die zentrale reformatorische Erkenntnis von der Rechtfertigung des Gottlosen allein aus Gnade um Christi willen verdunkeln, setzte Nikolaus von Amsdorf die überspitzt formulierte These dagegen, gute Werke seien zur Erlangung der Seligkeit schädlich. Major wiederum beharrte in seinem „Sermon von S. Pauli und aller gottfürchtigen Menschen Bekehrung zu Gott“, der umfänglichsten Schrift zum Thema, auf seiner These und betonte, die reformatorische Rechtfertigungslehre dürfe nicht zu moralischer Indifferenz führen. In der Diskussion dieser Problematik ergaben sich unerwartete Frontstellungen, so dass sich etwa Matthias Flacius Illyricus und der Gothaer Superintendent Justus Menius als Gegner wiederfanden. Die Eisenacher Synode von 1556 schien vorübergehend eine Einigung zwischen Menius und Amsdorf herbeizuführen, letzterer distanzierte sich aber bald wieder von den Beschlüssen, und auch das Altenburger Religionsgespräch von 1568/69 drei Jahre nach dem Tod von Majors einstigem Hauptkontrahenten Amsdorf konnte die Streitigkeiten nicht dauerhaft beilegen. Sie fanden schließlich ihren Niederschlag in Art. IV der Formula Concordiae.

Der Majoristische Streit (1552–1570)

Heinz Duchhardt

Małgorzata Morawiec

Die Haltung der christlichen Kirchen vor der Herausforderung »Europa«.

Denker und Querdenker

Die europäische Integration und die Kirchen II

Robert Kolb

Timothy J. Wengert

Nicole Kuropka

"I have never learned so much about Melanchthon in such a short time as I have from Wengert's essays here includedI recommend most heartily, sincerely, and joyfully this volume to students of the Reformation, students of the history of the Church more broadly, students of the German Reformation, students of Melanchthon, and general readers looking for a volume from which they might learn a great deal about one of the Reformation's 'shadow' figures." -- Jim West, Quartz Hill School of Theology English summary: These twelve essays by international scholars investigate Melanchthon's theological activities as teacher, confessor of the faith, and defender of his doctrine and ecclesiastical policies as they developed within the context of his service of society and church. In the past quarter century Melanchthon researchers have scrutinized older, mostly negative, interpretations of the Preceptor Germaniae. The editors present in this volume precisely focused appraisals of Master Philip in his role as theologian at the university and in the service of his own prince and others. By carefully placing his use of Aristotle, his understanding of the nature of training for pastoral ministry, his biblical exegesis in context, by analyzing four of his attempts to formulate Wittenberg teaching in public confession, by assessing how his own writings took on normative character for the church, and by tracing his thinking on the free will and the Lord's Supper in the midst of controversy, these authors offer carefully etched portraits of Melanchthon as Preceptor ecclesiae. This volume contributes to the expansion of our understanding of Melanchthon as key figure in the Wittenberg Reformation and the currents of controversy that have long surrounded the interpretation of his contributions. German description: These twelve essays by international scholars investigate Melanchthon's theological activities as teacher, confessor of the faith, and defender of his doctrine and ecclesiastical policies as they developed within the context of his service of society and church. In the past quarter century Melanchthon researchers have scrutinized older, mostly negative, interpretations of the Preceptor Germaniae. The editors present in this volume precisely focused appraisals of Master Philip in his role as theologian at the university and in the service of his own prince and others. By carefully placing his use of Aristotle, his understanding of the nature of training for pastoral ministry, his biblical exegesis in context, by analyzing four of his attempts to formulate Wittenberg teaching in public confession, by assessing how his own writings took on normative character for the church, and by tracing his thinking on the free will and the Lord's Supper in the midst of controversy, these authors offer carefully etched portraits of Melanchthon as Preceptor ecclesiae. This volume contributes to the expansion of our understanding of Melanchthon as key figure in the Wittenberg Reformation and the currents of controversy that have long surrounded the interpretation of his contributions.

Theologian in Classroom, Confession, and Controversy

Philip Melanchthon

Lubomir Batka

The 47 essays in this volume, composed by historians and theologians from 15 nations, survey the background, context, content and impact of the thinking of Martin Luther. These authors explore the intellectual traditions which formed his thought, his hermeneutical framework, his teaching on specific topics of biblical doctrine, his social and ethical positions, the ways in which specific genre and interaction with others (both supporters and opponents) formed histheology, and its impact on subsequent centuries and several parts of the twenty-first world. Essays explore the dimensions and implications of Luther's way of thought within its historical contexton the basis of original sources and debates among interpreters of his thinking and his influence on later generations.

The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther's Theology

English summary: In this volume, the authors study the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam to determine how they each approach their political roles. They discuss the relationship between religion and politics with a special emphasis: How and why do religions consider it normal to engage in political activities? What is the logic behind their aspiration to take on "political tasks"? The contributions consider the political self-image of these religions and compare them to external perception thereof from a nonreligious perspective. German description: Das Verhaltnis von Religion und Politik ist in den vergangenen Jahren verstarkt in den Fokus der Forschung geruckt. Die Autoren dieses Bandes widmen sich diesem Verhaltnis unter einer besonderen Zuspitzung. Ihre Beitrage analysieren, inwiefern es zum Selbstverstandnis von Religionen gehort, einen Beitrag zur Gestaltung der gesellschaftlichen und politischen Wirklichkeit leisten zu sollen. Mit dieser Problematik verknupft ist eine zentrale Frage: Wie erklart und wie aussert sich der Anspruch von Religionen, eine politische Aufgabe zu besitzen? Im Fokus stehen die drei grossen monotheistischen Religionen Judentum, Christentum und Islam, wobei fur das Christentum zusatzlich die konfessionellen Differenzen in den Blick kommen, die zu ganz unterschiedlichen Einschatzungen der politischen Aufgabe des Christentums gefuhrt haben. Fur alle drei monotheistischen Religionen nehmen die Beitrager jeweils eine Doppelperspektive ein: historische Beispiele erhellen die jeweiligen Bedingungen und Kontexte fur religios motivierte Teilhabe an politischer Gestaltung und Verantwortung; Systematische Entfaltungen versuchen eine Einbettung dieser Beispiele in die spezifischen Denkhorizonte der jeweiligen Religionen. Das so erhobene politische Selbstverstandnis der Religionen wird schliesslich mit der Fremdwahrnehmung dieses Selbstverstandnisses aus nichtreligioser Perspektive kontrastiert.

Irene Dingel

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