Schmalkaldic articles

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Heidelberg University Library, Cod. Pal. germ. 423

The Schmalkaldic Articles (orig. Latin Articuli Smalcaldici) are, besides the Small and Large Catechism, the only Lutheran confessional writings from the pen of Martin Luther .

The articles, which were written on behalf of the Saxon Elector Johann Friedrich in December 1536 and submitted to the Federal Assembly in Schmalkalden in February 1537, should originally be based on the Pope Paul III. be read out at the council convened in Mantua. However, the members of the Schmalkaldic League have already classified the articles as unsuitable for the council and only signed them with reservations. Ultimately, this council, which was supposed to settle the split in faith, only took place in Trento from 1545 and largely without the participation of the Lutherans.

In 1544 the Schmalkaldic Articles were elevated to the status of a confessional document and later they became part of the Book of Concord , in which the foundations of the Evangelical Lutheran faith are laid down.

In particular, they contain an examination of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, which Lutherans reject. Topics are salvation , mass, papacy , worship of saints and relics , indulgences and similar topics. The language is clear and memorable.

The Schmalkaldic Articles were signed by a total of 43 leading scholars, including a. by Philipp Melanchthon , Johannes Bugenhagen , Johannes Agricola , Justus Jonas , Gerhard Omcke , Konrad Öttinger , Justinian von Holzhausen and Georg Helt .

See also

literature

  • The confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (BSLK); Göttingen 1930, 1998 12 (scientific edition, Latin / German).

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