Martin Luther was an influential scholar in the 16th century who changed the face of the Catholic church by sparking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation is one of the first works written by Luther in 1520. The text gives the reader an insight into the life of Luther, while he exhorts and rebukes the authority and ideals of the Roman Catholic Church. Within the text, Luther challenges the three main ideals of the Church and insinuates an ecclesiastical movement. Furthermore, I agree with Luther’s approach to completely disband all the metaphorical walls that the Romanists have developed in the attempt to revolutionize Church and State.
In To the Christian Nobility of the German, The Romans …show more content…
The first wall states that the temporal power has no jurisdiction over the Spiritual Estate. In other words, those of the secular authorities have no power over those with spiritual status. The Roman Catholic Church claims that these two groups of individuals, secular and spiritual, are different and entirely separate. Not only do the Romanists believe in the separation of the spiritual and the secular, but they also believe that those who make up the Spiritual Estate, popes, bishops, and other religious clergy, are far superior to those of the Temporal power, therefore establishing a sense of inequality within the Church. Luther addresses the hypocrisy of this statement by bringing forth testimony and evidence that greatly contradict the ideals of the Roman Catholic Church (9). Stating that all Christians are members of the Spiritual Estate, Luther brings to the attention of the reader an excerpt from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians 12:12. Within this text, Paul speaks for the entirety of the Church, depicting them as One, equal body of Christ. However, each member of the whole body of Christ has his or her own distinct work. Through Baptism and faith, each Christian person is a member of the spiritual estate. Luther goes on to quote Peter and the book of Revelation, revealing that through the sacrament of Baptism, each individual is a consecrated priest. For this reason, each person, secular or spiritual, would be equal in power and their office and work would stand as a useful asset to the Christian community. Luther uses this example in an effort to diminish the authority that the Church seemingly has over the laity. Luther continues to scrutinize the first wall, saying that there really is no difference between laymen and religious clergy, other than the work they do (11). Luther then directs the readers’ attention back to the texts of St.
In To the Christian Nobility of the German, The Romans …show more content…
The first wall states that the temporal power has no jurisdiction over the Spiritual Estate. In other words, those of the secular authorities have no power over those with spiritual status. The Roman Catholic Church claims that these two groups of individuals, secular and spiritual, are different and entirely separate. Not only do the Romanists believe in the separation of the spiritual and the secular, but they also believe that those who make up the Spiritual Estate, popes, bishops, and other religious clergy, are far superior to those of the Temporal power, therefore establishing a sense of inequality within the Church. Luther addresses the hypocrisy of this statement by bringing forth testimony and evidence that greatly contradict the ideals of the Roman Catholic Church (9). Stating that all Christians are members of the Spiritual Estate, Luther brings to the attention of the reader an excerpt from St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians 12:12. Within this text, Paul speaks for the entirety of the Church, depicting them as One, equal body of Christ. However, each member of the whole body of Christ has his or her own distinct work. Through Baptism and faith, each Christian person is a member of the spiritual estate. Luther goes on to quote Peter and the book of Revelation, revealing that through the sacrament of Baptism, each individual is a consecrated priest. For this reason, each person, secular or spiritual, would be equal in power and their office and work would stand as a useful asset to the Christian community. Luther uses this example in an effort to diminish the authority that the Church seemingly has over the laity. Luther continues to scrutinize the first wall, saying that there really is no difference between laymen and religious clergy, other than the work they do (11). Luther then directs the readers’ attention back to the texts of St.