Martin Luther's Persecution Of The Jews

Martin Luther’s legacy of writings against the Jews is very well known in theological and historical circles, which have been pondering over the meanings behind the writings and the factors that influenced Luther’s views of the Jews. A close reading of Luther’s works regarding the Jews reveals a major change in both tone and content from generally conciliatory and amiable to violent, vitriolic rants against the Jewish People. Luther’s tone is not the only aspect of his writings on Jews that changes though. This paper will explore not only the change in Luther’s tone with regard to the Jews, but also how Luther’s view of censorship of Jewish writing, conversion of the Jews, and the nature of his anti-Judaism changed. Luther’s shift in tone can be most easily seen by analyzing his earliest writing on the Jews, his transition point, and his last writings on the Jews. This allows for one to see both extremes and the point of change. One of Luther’s earliest writings regarding the Jews deals with a debate that was present in Europe at the time. It was over the issue of whether the government should censor Jewish writings and texts. Johannes Reuchlin was anti-censorship while the men of Cologne were pro-censorship. There was no clear side with the upper hand when Luther weighed into the debate in 1514, so the bias of attempting to fit into a norm does not apply. Luther’s writing on the subject in 1514 was a letter to Spalatin in which Luther was against the censoring of Jewish texts. Luther justifies this through a theological and a practical reason. Luther brings up the practical reason to argue for Reuchlin’s side when Luther writes, “Has unhappy Cologne no waste places nor turbulence in her own church, to which she could devote her knowledge, zeal and charity, that she must need search out such cases as this in remote parts?” It is clear from this quote that Luther believes that this debate is not a very pressing issue considering the blasphemies in Europe and Jerusalem that go on unaddressed. Luther’s theological argument is more telling, though of his thoughts of the Jews. Luther writes that “I have come to the conclusion that the Jews will always curse and blaspheme God and his King Christ, as all the prophets have predicted…it is necessary that such things take place to fulfill prophecy. If they [the men of Cologne] are trying to stop the Jews blaspheming, they are working to prove the Bible and God liars.” Luther makes it clear that he believes that the men of Cologne who try to silence the blasphemous voices and writings of the Jews are working against prophecy, and thus, the Bible and God. He believes that the Bible predicts the blasphemy of the Jews and that anyone who tries to silence the predicted blasphemy is under the inspiration of the devil. Luther’s theological reason for not censoring Jewish writings is important in an analysis of Luther’s change over time because his later writings are contrary to this …show more content…
Brooks Schramm and Kirsi I. Stjerna claim that Luther believed in opposing the civil authorities who allow Jews to blaspheme. They write, “If expulsion is not acceptable, then the civil authorities in Protestant territories must be urged to practice a sharp mercy toward the Jews so as to prevent them from continuing to blaspheme.” In the infamous On the Jews and Their Lies of 1543, Luther develops his “harsh mercy,” which is a delineated plan to end Jewish blasphemy. It includes burning down synagogues, destroying Jewish houses, confiscating Jewish writings, and conducting other acts which seem to foreshadow some of the actions of the Nazis prior to and during World War …show more content…
Luther’s tone is consistent with his tirades against the Pope, or as Luther calls him, the Antichrist. Additionally, Luther wanted the Jews to convert to Christianity, so in the beginning, when he thought it possible for many Jews to convert, he spoke to them and about them in a very amiable and inclusive way. Luther’s writing to Charles V in a very similar tone to try to make Charles V join the Protestant side parallels Luther wanting the Jews to convert. Luther always knows his audience and that he wants something from them, so he adjusts his tone