June 30, 2017
Devotions: Timeline of the Reformation: Augsburg Confession 1530

Most Invincible Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Most Clement Lord: Inasmuch as Your Imperial Majesty has summoned a Diet of the Empire here at Augsburg to deliberate concerning measures against the Turk, that most atrocious, hereditary, and ancient enemy of the Christian name and religion, in what way, namely, effectually to withstand his furor and assaults by strong and lasting military provision; [2]and then also concerning dissensions in the matter of our holy religion and Christian Faith, that in this matter of religion the opinions and judgments of the parties might be heard in each other’s presence; and considered and weighed [3]among ourselves in mutual charity, leniency, and kindness, in order that, after the removal and correction of such things as have been treated and understood in a different manner in the writings on either side, these matters may be settled and brought back to one simple truth and Christian concord, [4]that for the future one pure and true religion may be embraced and maintained by us, that as we all are under one Christ and do battle under Him, so we may be able also to live in unity and concord in the one Christian Church. And inasmuch as we, the undersigned Elector and [5]Princes, with others joined with us, have been called to the aforesaid Diet the same as the other Electors, Princes, and Estates, in obedient compliance with the Imperial mandate, we have promptly come to Augsburg, and—what we do not mean to say as boasting—we were among the first to be here. [6]Accordingly, since even here at Augsburg at the very beginning of the Diet, Your Imperial Majesty caused to be proposed to the Electors, Princes, and other Estates of the Empire, amongst other things, that the several Estates of the Empire, on the strength of the Imperial edict, should set forth and submit their opinions and judgments in the German and the Latin [7]language, and since on the ensuing Wednesday, answer was given to Your Imperial Majesty, after due deliberation, that we would submit the Articles of our Confession for our side on next Wednesday, therefore, in obedience to Your Imperial Majesty’s [8]wishes, we offer, in this matter of religion, the Confession of our preachers and of ourselves, showing what manner of doctrine from the Holy Scriptures and the pure Word of God has been up to this time set forth in our lands, dukedoms, dominions, and cities, and taught in our churches.”

Thus begins the Preface to the Augsburg Confession, written to emperor Charles V. The Augsburg Confession is the first of the great Protestant Confessions. All Lutheran church bodies base their teachings upon this treatise because they believe that it is a faithful to the Word of God. The Augsburg Confession was a response to Charles V and his call for a Diet in Augsburg. Charles was being attacked by the Turkish armies in Eastern Austria. The Reformation that was also raging around him was worrying Charles that together, these two factors might weaken his Holy Roman Empire. Therefore he called upon the Lutheran Protestants to explain their religious convictions. To this end, Philip Melanchthon, a close friend of Martin Luther and a Professor of New Testament at Wittenburg University, was called upon to draft a common confession for the Lutheran Lords and Free Territories. The resulting document, the Augsburg Confession was presented to the emperor on June 25, 1530 in both Latin and German vernacular. Interestingly enough, there are minor differences in the two texts, the Latin and the German. But the Augsburg Confession will become the most important Confessions of faith for the Lutherans. It will be one of the most important documents that comprises the Book of Concord (1580). And is still taught to adults and children alike seeking to learn about the Lutheran teachings.

Pastor Dave

June 29, 2017
Devotions: Timeline of the Reformation: The Marburg Colloquy 1529

The Marburg Colloquy is the title given to the meeting that was held between Ulrich Zwingli and Luther – this meeting was deemed necessary for the Protestants to have some united front heading into the future, especially for upcoming events like the Diet of Augsburg in 1530 (next devotion). Philip of Hesse, (known most prominently as the Landgrave of Hesse, or as Philipp the Magnanimous: he was a leading political advocate for the right of Lutheran princes to reform their churches against the objections of the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church) wanted to unify the Protestant leaders believing that a divided Reformation movement would be vulnerable to emperor Charles V.

Philip’s hopes for unity would be dashed after this meeting. Luther and Zwingli were not to agree on the sacrament of Holy Communion. Luther firmly believed in the real presence of Jesus in the sacrament, where Zwingli believed that communion was a commemoration of Christ’s sacrifices and that the presence of Christ in the bread and wine was merely symbolic. The most memorable point in their argument came over the phrase “hoc est corpus meum”, “This is my body”. Luther held that it meant “this is my body” meaning the real body of Christ, where Zwingli held that it meant “this signifies my body” meaning it represents but is not actually the body of Christ. Neither man would budge on their beliefs, such was the conviction of their faith. At the end of the meeting, Luther refused to shake hands with Zwingli and Luther would make his dislike of Zwingli very well known. Following the debate, Philip asked Martin Luther to draft a statement of Christian doctrine – what resulted was the “Articles of Marburg”. Included in the fifteen articles were agreements on doctrine such as original sin, atonement and baptism – none of which were disputed or even discussed at the colloquy. As such, there was no real progress made as Philip had hoped. . (adapted and adopted with various changes from historylearningsite.co.uk, The Marburg Colloquy, C N Trueman “The Marburg Colloquy” March 17, 2015; christianhistoryinstitute.org, TURNING POINT: LUTHER’S LOST OPPORTUNITY, Bruce Heydt)

What was accomplished was the fact that neither Luther nor Zwingli backed down nor did they cave in to political pressure. And, as history has shown, the Reformation was not impeded by their lack of agreement. So the Marburg Colloquy may have not accomplished the unity Philipp the Magnanimous hoped, but in practice the differences in their beliefs would not be the downfall, but actually would unify their resolve to seek change.

Pastor Dave