obtained, Melanchthon prepared the final text. THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION The Confession of Faith: Which Was Submitted to His Imperial Majesty Charles V At the Diet of Augsburg in the Year 1530 by Philip Melanchthon, 1497-1560 CONTENTS PREFACE TO THE EMPEROR CHARLES V. Article I: Of God. The diplomatic Preface to the Emperor is not from his pen, but from that of the Saxon Chancellor Brck. So, we have some latitude in how we worship and live. I. p. 178), Rckert, and Heppe give all the credit of authorship to Melanchthon. Such documents provide the ABCs or basics of faith and tell others where a church stands on important issues. See Kllner, p. 241; Zckler, pp. 4, 5, 10, 18, 20. Chancellor Pfaff, of Tbingen, first discovered at Mayence that the original German copy was lost long ago, and he published, in 1730, what was regarded as a true copy of the original; but he was fiercely assailed by Adami, Feuerlin, and others, and his discovery traced to a Jesuitical lie. At the same time, the altered edition of 1540, though not strictly speaking a symbolical book of binding authority any where, [453] is yet far more than a private document, and represents an important element in the public history of the Lutheran Church in the sixteenth century, and the present theological convictions of a very large party in that denomination. p. 110). der ev. Augsburg Confession - Wikipedia However, an opponent, John Eck, had written 404 Propositions which linked Lutheran beliefs with those of Zwingli. Suobacences (which must not be confounded with the Twenty-two Articles of a previous convent at Schwabach, near Nuremberg. The words diligenter recognita (in the German edition, mit vleis emendirt) openly indicate the changes. The Papistical Confutation, while objecting to the articles de utraque specie and de missa, in the second part of the Augsb. [447] In Art. It was based on the Scriptures and on the first centuries of Church tradition, but also expressed Luther's theological views. '[436] So Dr. W. Hoffmann, late Court Chaplain of the Emperor of Germany (Deutschland Einst und Jetzt im Lichte des Reiches Gottes, Berlin, 1868, pp. [452] Instrum. 1530; and again by Frick, in his edition of Seckendorf's Ausfhrl. pp.1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 35, 44, 52, 61, 74, 85-88; and Corp. Ref. 119. This would be true, if the original distribuantur had been retained, and not exchanged for the more indefinite exhibeantur. For two hundred years the opinion prevailed that the 'Book of Concord' contained the original text, until Pfaff and Weber, by a thorough investigation on the spot, dispelled this error. Vol. Conf. II. III.:p. Anyone can share this news, but in the church some are designated to do just that. Nachrichten, Frankf. zur Gesch. of Berlin, for 1853, pp. 113-200; Plitt: Einleitung die Augustana (1867-68), I. pp. the Corpus Reform., Vol. A Guide to the Augsburg Confession - 1517 In Vol. 1-243. (Briefe, IV. Westphalum, Genev. The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin (our translation follows the Latin more closely than the German). : Being under the papal excommunication and the imperial ban since the Diet of Worms (1521), Luther could not safely venture to Augsburg, but he closely watched the proceedings of the Diet from the Castle of Coburg on the Saxon frontier, praying, translating the prophets, writing childlike letters to his children, and manly letters to princes, singing Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, giving his advice at every important step, and encouraging his timid and desponding friend Melanchthon. . [442] Under the title: 'Confessio Fidei exhibita invictiss. Title page of the first edition of the Book of Concord, printed in Dresden, Germany in 1580 . The Augsburg Confession is the affirmation of faith of the Lutheran Church written by Philip Melanchthon (l. 1497-1560) and presented at the Diet of Augsburg in June 1530. pp. Ego canonizabo vos, ut fidelia membra Christi, et quid amplius quritis glori?' The Altered Confession, besides a large number of valuable additions and real improvements in style and the order of subjects, [447] embodies the changes in Melanchthon's theology, [448] which may be dated from the new edition of his Loci communes, 1535, and his personal contact with Bucer and Calvin. So far orthodox Lutherans might agree. Considering the length of the document, this is not inconsistent with the other statement of Jonas and Spalatin, that he, like most of the other Princes, was quite attentive (satis attentus erat Csar). pp. Vol. It is not quite certain whether it was the Altered or the Unaltered Confession which Calvin subscribed at Ratisbon, but probably it was the former, as he says that it contained nothing contrary to his doctrine, and as he appealed without fear to Melanchthon himself as the best interpreter. He had taken the leading part in the important preparatory labors, namely, the Fifteen, Articles of the Marburg Conference (Oct.3, 1529), [412] the Seventeen Articles of Schwabach (Oct.16, 1529), [413] which correspond to the first or positive part of the Augsburg Confession, and the so-called Articles of Torgau (March 20, 1530), [414] which form the basis of its second or polemical part. ), [419] In a letter to Justus Jonas, July 21, 1530: 'Satan adhuc vivit, et bene sensit Apologiam vestram Leisetreterin [the softly stepping Confession] dissimulasse articulos de purgatorio, de sanctorum cultu, et maxime de Antichristo Papa' (Briefe, IV. 1863; Ratz: Was hat Luther durch Melanchthon gewonnen? The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin (the scholarly language of the time) and read in German to Charles V on June 25, 1530. Diet Proclaimed by Emperor. Historie vom Lutherthum. ; Knaake: Luther's Antheil an der Augsb. He did not allow it, however, to be read in a public session of the Diet in the large City Hall, but merely before a select company of Princes, counselors, and deputies of cities, in the small chapel of the episcopal palace, where he resided. Et loquebar de testimoniis tuis in conspectu Regum, et non confundebar. The omission of Zwingli's name may be due to regard for his friend, the Landgrave Philip of Hesse, but that he was chiefly intended must be inferred from the antecedent controversies, especially the l5th Article of the Marburg Conference, and from the strong opposition of Melanchthon to Zwingli's theory before 1536 or 1540, when he modified his own view on the Eucharist. pp.102 sqq. Pacis Osnabr. 19-67, the Latin in Niemeyer, pp. The Augsburg confession (1530) | Muse protestant They were drawn up by Luther, Melanchthon, Jonas, and Bugenhagen, at the command of the Elector of Saxony (then residing at Torgau), for presentation at the approaching Diet of Augsburg, and discuss the controverted articles on the marriage of priests, the communion of both kinds, the mass, the confession, the episcopal jurisdiction, ordination, monastic vows, invocation of saints, faith and works, etc. ed. -- in Latin or German, or both -- by Twesten (1816), Winer (1825), Tittmann (1830), Spieker (1830), M. Weber (1830), Wiggers (1830), Beyschlag (1830), Funk (1830), Frstemann (1833), Hrter (1838). Nevertheless, the Variata was again used, either alone or alongside with the Invariata, at several subsequent conferences, probably at Ratisbon, 1541, certainly at Ratisbon in 1546, and at Worms, 1557. Hence the Confession frequently appeals not only to the Scriptures, but also to the Fathers (Augustine, Ambrose, Chrysostom, etc.) XXVI. The first Lutheran divine who publicly censured and condemned the Variata was Flacius, at the colloquy of Weimar, 1560. Both copies are lost. They forced Charles the Fifth to side with them. The Augsburg Confession (in Latin and German) - University of Pennsylvania luth. I. p. 577; Vol. I. p. 431 sq. Halle, 1730-35, 4to. 1517 exists to declare and defend the Good News that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone. [437], The Augsburg Confession was first completed in Latin, [438] but the German text was read before the Diet. . Historie vom Lutherthum. [416], Luther himself was satisfied that his friend was better adapted for the task, and expressed his entire satisfaction with the execution. [429] Comp. Imp. of Berlin, for 1853, pp. The philosophical foundation of this dogma is the ubiquity (either absolute or relative) of Christ's body, which is a part of the Lutheran Christology. The Augsburg Confession is the most succinct presenta-tion of Lutheranism. The church in Luthers time and some churches today have beliefs and practices which do not square with this view of the gospel. ); Consistorialrath Leop. Amen.' Luther and his co-workers reformed the church to make it true to the proper distinction between law and gospel. God gives the law not because we can do it but in order to prove to us that our righteousness will not make us righteous before him. [413] The Articuli XVII. Library the principal changes are noted in foot-notes under the text of the Confession. XXVI. Throughout his life, Melanchton never stopped working on the Confession and its Apology. p. 235. And yet immediately after the delivery, which marks the height of his usefulness, the good man was in an almost desponding state, and was tormented by scruples whether he had not been conservative enough and taken too much liberty with the venerable Catholic Church. But now follows a qualification to save the consciences of the Reformed and Unionists: 'With this we connect the declaration that they and each one of them adhere to the particular confessions of their respective churches, and the Unionists to the consensus of the same; and that they do not mean to interfere with the different positions which the Lutherans, Reformed, and Unionists sustain to the Tenth Article of the Augsburg Confession, nor with the peculiar relations of those Reformed congregations which never held the Augustana as a symbol (Hiemit verbinden sie die Erklrung, dass sie jeder insonderheit an den besonderen Bekenntniss-Schriften ihrer Kirchen, und die Unirten an dem Consensus derselben festhalten, und dass der verschiedenen Stellung der Lutheraner, Reformirten und Unirten zu Artikel X. dieser Confession, und den eigenthmlichen Verhltnissen derjenigen Reformirten Gemeinden, welche die Augustana niemals als Symbol gehabt haben, nicht Eintrag geschehen soll).' Augsburg Confession LOGIA Online LOGIA [429], But the same motive made him unjust toward his fellow-Protestants, who differed from him far less than both differed from the Romanists. p. 24. Long enough have ye been mourning in the world, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. This impelled Melanchthon to show Lutheran faithfulness to genuine catholic (meaning universal) teaching and so develop a confession of faith. Nachrichten, Frankf. It was signed, August 23, by seven German Princes (the Elector John of Saxony and the Landgrave Philip of Hesse, etc.) Kirchenzeitung for 1853, No. On June 25 th, in the year 1530, the Augsburg Confession was presented before Emperor Charles V, as a summary of the teachings of Holy Scripture. [423] Et improbant secus docentes (derhalben wird auch die Gegenlehr verworfen). Abendmahl, II. It is also the foremost confession of faith for the Lutheran Church. )[419] In a letter to Justus Jonas, July 21, 1530: 'Satan adhuc vivit, et bene sensit Apologiam vestram Leisetreterin [the softly stepping Confession] dissimulasse articulos de purgatorio, de sanctorum cultu, et maxime de Antichristo Papa' (Briefe, IV. 4, 5, 6, 18, 20, 21, of Part First, and the order of the first five articles in Part Second. w. The German copy was read to the council at Augsburg on June 25, 1530. were composed by Luther, with the aid of Melanchthon, Jonas, Osiander, Brentius, and Agricola. Art. Indulgences, pilgrimage, the popes authority, and the doctrine purgatory were not mentioned in order to appease and to emphasize the more important. Many medieval Christians believed that the church had strayed from the truth and sought its reform. Ego canonizabo vos, ut fidelia membra Christi, et quid amplius quritis glori?' Apology of the [Augsburg] Confession. The principal author was the reformer Philipp Melanchthon, who drew on earlier Lutheran statements of faith. See Gieseler, Lehrbuch der K. G. III. Instead, we need a righteousness that God himself gives us. III. I. The majority of the citizens of Augsburg likewise adhered to Zwingli at that time. The first part deals with doctrinal matters. The Augsburg Confession: A Guide for the Perplexed. Neither the one nor the other edition can be the expression of a union, or confederation of two distinct denominations, of which each has its own genius, history, and symbols of faith. See Corp. Ref. [410] See the masterly delineation of this Prince by Ranke, in his Deutsche Geschichte, etc., Book V. Ch. Melanchthon himself confessed that he wrote the Confession with more leniency than the malice of the Papists deserved. sqq., and his Conservative Reformation, pp. III. And finally, at the bottom of the column, you will find information about how you may purchase a copy of the Book of Concord, in several printed editions, as well as a digital edition. What is the "Unaltered" Augsburg Confession? - Christ Evangelical Conf. The Augsburg Confession, compiled in 1530 and published the following year, presented a single, unified creed for Lutherans, and it remains the standard Lutheran statement of faith.
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