The "Rector, Professors, and Doctors" of the University of Leipzig write to their sovereign, Duke George of Saxony, complaining that Luther has announced both that the University will not host a debate between Johann Eck and Andreas Karlstadt and that he will participate in it: At your Grace's written command we have granted permission to…
February, 1519 (Part 2c)
Luther begins to revise his Lectures on Galatians (delivered in 1516-17) for publication. Quotation: Commentary on Galatians 1:3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. ... [continued from yesterday] Christ is God by Nature At the same time, Paul confirms our creed, "that Christ is very…
February, 1519 (Part 2b)
Luther begins to revise his Lectures on Galatians (delivered in 1516-17) for publication. Quotation: Commentary on Galatians 1:3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. ... [continued from yesterday] Men Should Not Speculate About the Nature of God The Apostle adds to the salutation the words,…
February, 1519 (Part 2a)
Luther begins to revise his Lectures on Galatians (originally delivered between Oct 27, 1516 and Mar 13, 1517) for publication. Quotation: Commentary on Galatians 1:3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. The terms of grace and peace are common terms with Paul and are now…
February 18, 1519
Luther follows up his open letter to Karlstadt with a letter to Prof. Johann Eck. Quotation: I salute you and wish that you would at last stop seducing the Christian people. I regret, my dear Eck, that by plain proofs your friendship for me has at last been shown to be hypocritical. You boast that…
Early February, 1519 (Part 2)
In the middle of his open letter to Andreas Karlstadt, Luther pivots to address Johann Eck directly, before concluding the letter with a section addressed to Karlstadt in which Luther proposes a plan for the debate in Leipzig. Luther enclosed his twelve theses against Eck's with this letter.[1] Quotation: ... Accordingly, my dear Eck, I…
Early February, 1519 (Part 1)
Luther writes an open letter to his colleague Andreas Karlstadt to explain that, in his view, the publication of Johann Eck's schedula (theses for the Leipzig debate) released Luther from the truce negotiated by Karl von Miltitz in Altenburg in early January. In that agreement, Luther had promised to be silent on the issues raised…
February 7, 1519
Luther writes to George Spalatin, updating him on progress in reforming the curriculum of the University of Wittenberg and mentioning that the Faculty had approved a salary increase for Philip Melanchthon. He also describes how he has been drawn into the debate between Prof. Andreas Karlstadt (University of Wittenberg) and Prof. Johannes Eck (University of…
February, 1519 (Part 1b)
Martin Luther begins revising An Exposition of the Lord's Prayer for Simple Laymen for publication. This small book immediately became very popular in German-speaking regions. Beatus Rhenanus [1] was so impressed with it that he stated that he hoped Luther's books, especially this Exposition, would find their way into every Swiss home. [Excerpt continued from yesterday] Quotation:…
February, 1519 (Part 1a)
Martin Luther begins revising An Exposition of the Lord's Prayer for Simple Laymen for publication. In Lent of 1517, he had preached a series of sermons on the Lord’s Prayer. Two of his future coworkers, John Agricola and Nicholas Amsdorf, copied and published these sermons in 1518 and 1519. In the spring of 1519, Luther produced his own version, incorporating…
