theologiagermanica—the second most influential book in ... · • meister eckhart (1260-c.1328),...

500thAnniversaryoftheReformation:Theologia Germanica— thesecondmostinfluentialbookinMartinLuther'slife

“Evenwhenwethinkthatweseefartherthanourpredecessors,weshouldrememberthatitisonly

becausewearesittingontheirshoulders”

- RichardElliotFriedman

PreparedandpresentedbyRumyanaHristovaSpringfield,Missouri,October8,2017

HistoricalBackground:Bogomils/Cathars

Bogomils:DoctrinesandPractices

• AttempttorevivetheoriginalteachingofChrist;Bulgaria-France-Italy-Bosna(928– 1463)

• “Christianheresy”vs“trueChristians”,“goodmen”,“goodwomen”,Cathars,Albigensians

• EmphasisonScripture:NewTestament,theGospelofJohn; allegoricalinterpretation;Lord’sPrayer

• Readinthevernacular(OldSlavonic,Provencal),equalaccesstoecclesiasticalliterature

• Confessionwithoutapriest– equality,brotherhood• BaptismthroughtheHolySpirit,consolamentum – vital

roleforman’ssalvation;beliefinreincarnation• Divinelove;theconsolamentum wasintendedtorestore

thebelievertoGod’slove• Christ- ateacher,example;equatedwithGod

Bogomils:DoctrinesandPractices• Elevatedroleofwomen,equaltomen• Mutual,directGod-manrelationship:Bog-o-mil,i.e.

“BelovedofGod”,“Godisbelovedbyme”• Godisunitedandone,butHismanifestationisdualistic,

occursthoughtheinteractionofoppositepairs;creationmythinTheSecretBook

• Organization:“perfects”,lifeofperfection(Matt5:48)and“believers”;fasting,prayers;asceticlifeasitinerantpreachers

• Cathars inFrance– 1022,Cathar Church(1167)• PublicdebateswithCatholicpriests• Albigensian Crusade(1209-1229)• FormationofDominican(1216)andFranciscan(1209)

orders• Inquisition(1233);lastCathar burnt(1321)

Theologia Germanica – HistoricalContext

• AvignonPapacy(1309-78),powerstrugglebetweenthePopeandtheHolyRomanEmperor,manyclericswereforbiddentoperformCatholicrites(theInterdictof1324)

• Origin ofThe Frankfurter (T.G.)– c.1350,anonymousmanuscript,supposedauthor– “memberoftheTeutonicOrder”;alsoassociatedwiththeFriendsofGod(FOG)

• FriendsofGod:medievallaymysticalgroup,c.1340 inBasel,partoftheGermanmysticalmovement/Dominican/Rhinelandmysticism;

• MeisterEckhart(1260- c.1328),aDominicanpreacherandtheologianandhisheirsJohnTauler andHenrySuso.M.E.heldhighpostsinParis,Saxony,Bohemia,Strasbourg,Cologne.Well-knownforhispopularGermansermonsandworkwithpiouslaygroups;distinctiveexpositorystyle;triedasaheretic(1326-28).


John(Johannes)Tauler (c.1300-1361)• DominicantheologianandpreacherfromStrasburg,oneoftheleadersofFOG,spenthisexileinBasel(c.1339-43),mentionedtheminhisadmirablesermons;heisalsoquotedinT.G.;

• appealedtotheclergynottoforsakehisflock;plaqueinStrasburg(1347-49);

• Lutherdrewheavilyonhim – e.g.,theconceptof“universalpriesthood”,doctrineofgrace.


• “FriendsofGod”(fromJohn15:15– “HenceforthIcallyounotservants;fortheservantknowethnotwhathislorddoeth:butIhavecalledyoufriends;forallthingsthatIhaveheardofmyFatherIhavemadeknowntoyou.”)

• TheiroperationsextendedalongtheRhine,fromBaseltoCologne,Bavaria,Strasburg,Nuremberg.Effortstorevivethespirituallifeofthosearoundthem.

FriendsofGod:doctrines,wayofliving1)Self-renunciation2)TheactivityoftheSpiritofGodinallbelievers3)AnintimateunionispossiblebetweenGodandman4)Theworthlessnessofreligionbasedonfearorthehopeofreward;“asincereheartandaself-sacrificinglife”5)No“religiousduties”/ritesandceremonies“caneithergivepiecetoman’sconscience”,norgivehimstrengthagainstadversity6)Theessentialequality ofthelaityandclergy,thoughforthesakeoforderanddisciplinetheorganizationoftheChurchwasneeded;reformfromwithintheChurch7)Memberscamefromallstrataofsociety,nodiscriminationofrankandsex8)Didnotrenounceproperty,noasceticism;preaching,writing,andconversations;nointerestinpoliticalandhierarchicalpower;learned,pious,andpracticalChristians.

Theologia Germanica

• “NexttotheBibleandSt.Augustine,nobookhasevercomeintomyhandsfromwhichIhavelearnedmoreofGodandChrist,andmanandallthingsthatare.”- MartinLuther

• ViewedaspivotalinprovokingLuther’sactionsandthesubsequentReformation;firstpartialeditionbyLutherin1516;1517;secondeditionin1518basedonanewmanuscript.

• Numberofeditionsandtranslations:8manuscripts;about200,publishedbetween16th-20th c.;German,Latin,French,English(1648),Flemish,Swedish;wasbannedbytheCatholicChurch(1612– untillate20c.);2 camps:proponents(Arndt,Spener,Arnold)&detractors(orthodoxLutherans)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica

Areactionagainsttheturmoilin14th centuryChristendom,theconflictbetweenthethroneandthealtar,alsoagainstabstractscholasticism.

• Renounce allthingsforGod’ssake,giveupourownwill,liveaccordingtoGod’swill

• Emphasisoninnerlife,i.e., knowyourselfbygoingwithin,whatGodis,howhewilluseus;“thehighestart”

• “UnionwithGod”ispossiblehereandnow;apreferredtermto“salvation”


• God-Manrelationship:mutual,direct“MancouldnotwithoutGod,andGodshouldnotwithoutman.WhereforeGodtookhumannature…andwasmademan,andmanwasmadedivine.”(p.24)• Theprincipleofdualism,binarypairs:unmanifested God(theGodhead)-themanifestedworld(thephysicalworld,man,“creatures”);perfect-imperfect;unknown-known;abstract-concrete;substance-works;heaven-hell;“TrueLight”(God)- “FalseLight”(Nature);God,“theEternalGoodness”- Lucifer,“theEvilSpirit”;Lucifer(theAntichrist)-Christ;“TrueLove”- “FalseLove”;obedience-disobedience;innerman-outwardman.


“Yetitispossibletoeveryman…toberightlycalledGodlike”and“apartakerofthedivinenature”(p.41,2Peter1:4).Howcanthisbeachieved?• “Disobedience andsinarethesamething”,itisman’sfault,Godis“guiltlessofsin”;self-will,ownership

• Trueobedience:“beingquitofhimself,thatisofhisI,andMe,andSelf,andMine,andthelike.”(p.39)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• Choice – betweendisobedience(hell)andobedience(heaven);possessedbytheEvilSpiritorbytheSpiritofGod:

“MenhavemorelikenesstotheEvilSpiritthantoGod…BesimplyandwhollybereftofSelf.”(p.48)• Freewill– “nothingissofreeasthewill”;misuse,“lawlessfreedomoflicense”– e.g.,BrethrenoftheFreeSpirit

• Hellandheavenareonearth:dynamiccycleofgoodandbad -“twogood,safeways foramaninthispresenttime.”Theyarelikethewind(John3:8).Manis“assafeinhellasisinheaven,andsolongasmanisonearth,itispossibleforhimtopassofttimes fromtheoneintotheother.”(p.35)


• ThepathtoGodisthrough Christ– amodel,ateacher ratherthanaSavior

• Christ “taughtinwordsandfulfilledinworks”(integrity);“soutterlybereftofself”,“ahouseandhabitationofGod”(p.39),Jesus’slife- anexampletofollow.

• DualnatureofChristandhumanbeings:1) innermanofChrist– ineternalpeace;hisdivine

natureassociatedwithhisrighteye2) outwardman,“inperfectsuffering”,lefteye

seeingintotimeandcreatures(p.29)


Inward-outwardmandynamic:

I.Outwardlife:morality/virtuouslife,goodworks,renounceallself-willandpossession,followGod’swill.Cultivatepositivequalities:humility(poornessofspirit),lackofpride,noevilthoughts,joy,patience,diligence,perseverance;belikethesun(pp.55-56).

“NomancomethuntoMe,excepttheFatherdrawhim”(John6:44)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• Reciprocity:themoremanperseveres,themorewillingGodistohelpamanandbringhimtothebestinhimself.

Whenlearninganewart,fourthingsareneedful:1) Agreatdesireandconstantendeavor2) Anexamplefromwhichtolearn3) Watchyourmaster,beobedienttohim4) “Putyourownhandtotheworkandpracticeit

withallindustry”(p.48)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• Stagesindiscipleship– “Noonecanbemadeperfectinaday,”evenChristneededtime.

Fourstages:1) “giveupone’sownwillandnatural

inclinations”2) “separateandcleansehimselffromallsinsand

evilways”3) “humblytakethecrossandfollowChrist”4) “Lethimtakeandreceiveexampleand

instruction,…counselandteachingfromdevoutandperfectservantsofGod”.


II.Inwardlife:Theoutwardlife–onlythebeginning,awaytoaccessthetrueinwardlife;whenmanisnothingtohimself,thetrueinwardlifebegins.• After rejecting“alltemporalthings”,onemay“becomeperfect inalifeofcontemplation.”(p.37)

• Themanthatisinpartwillsee“thatallthepartsareunitedinthePerfect,inOneSubstance.”(p.98)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• ThreestagestoattainPerfection;eachofthesestageshasitsownthreewaystobeachieved:

1)purification2)enlightening:

“bythepracticeofvirtueandgoodworks”(active)

3)unionwithGod:(1) “bypurenessandsinglenessofheart”(2) bylove(3) contemplationofGod(passive)

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• UnionwithGoddoesnotdependonman’sworks,exercises,orwords.Forthatwemustbe“whollyatonewiththeOneEternalWillofGod”(p.57).Grace?Christ’slife-anexampleofhowGoddwellsintheman.

• Thestateofthetrueenlightenedbeing–“unspeakable”,“lethimwhowho wouldknowit,gavehiswholediligence thathemayentertherein”(p.47);what“furtherwouldhappentothesoul,orwouldberevealeduntoher,..nonecandeclareorguess”(p.98)

• Befreefrompre-conditioning;individualpath

MainthemesinTheologia Germanica• Perfectknowledgecannotbeobtainedbyreadingthe

Scripture– thisis“belief”(p.79);dangerofreason-deceivesitselfandothersthatitis“thetrueEternalLight”(p.46),

- butby“forsakingthepart,”denyingoneself,andfollowingJesus(i.e.experiential)(p.45).

• DivineLightandDivineLove– componentsinthe“Godlikeman”;“But…thisLightorknowledgeisworthnothingwithoutlove.”HewhohasonlyknowledgeofGodwithoutlove“willneverbesaved”(p.78)

• FalseLove– forthesakeofreward,belongstonature,which“lovesnothingbesideherself”(p.79)

• Love:“KnowledgeandlightprofitnothingwithoutLove.WeseethisintheEvilSpirit…Thesameistrueof:virtue,justice,truth,Godanddivinethings…“AndthisLovemakesamanonewithGod thathecannevermorebeseparatedfromHim.”(p.76-7)


• Faith:1)tobelieve(e.g.“thearticlesoftheChristianfaith”);2)toknowacertainTruth“byexperience,elseyouwillnevercometoknowittruly.Thisisthefaith ofwhichChristspeaketh”(p.88)– i.e.,gnosis

• ManunitedwithGod:God’scounselandteachingis“theprivilegeoftheinwardman,”afterthatheisunitedwithGod.Andwherethereissuchaunion,theoutwardmanistaughtandorderedbytheinwardmansothatnooutwardcommandmentorteachingisneeded.Butthecommandmentsandlawsofmenbelongtotheouterman,andareneedfulforthosemenwhoknownothingbetter…andwouldbecomelike…beasts”(p.70-1).

• Foursortsofmenwithregardtoorder&laws:burden,reward,wickedonesmocktherules,theenlightenedonesactfromlovealone.


LastcounselfortheGodseekers:• To“giveourwhole diligence toamendourstate;andthisfromloveandnotfromfear,inallthingsandatalltimes.Wemustnotseekourown,eitherinthingsspiritual,orinthingsnatural.”

• Intwo commandmentsallothersarebrieflycomprehended:

1)TolovetheLord withallthyheart,soul,strength,andmind,2)“andtolovethyneighborasthyself.”(p.100-1)


Stateoffreedom“Thesemen,”i.e.theenlightenedones,“areinastateoffreedom,becausetheyhavelostthefearofpainor hell,andthehopeofrewardorheaven,butarelivinginpuresubmission totheEternalGoodness,inperfectfreedomofferventlove.ThismindwasinChristinperfection,andisalsoinHisfollowers”(p.33)

Luther’sTheology• “WhetherornotoneissatisfiedwithLuther’sstance,itshouldbeclearwhattheReformerwantedtosaybypublishingTheologia.Hewantedtosaythathehadtastedthepowerofthebookandfounditconsonantwithhisexperience.” (G.Arnold,ImpartialHistoryofChurchandHeresy,1699-1700)

• “Luther’stheological intuitiontoldhimthatT.G. andJohannTauler describedtheChristianconditioninwaysgermanetotheChristianfaith…thewaysofpersonality-mysticism(trustandforgivenessinthislife),experientialChristianknowledge.AndLuther’skinshipwithFOGthinkingenduredthroughouthislife.”(Hoffman,p.20)

Luther’sTheologyT.G.,FOG,Tauler

1)LifeaccordingtoGod’swill

2)Inner(thesoulorspirit)- outerperson

3)Mutual,directGod-manrelationship

Luther’sstance1)Humility,penance;doctrineoflaw (destructionoftheself)andgospel (God’slove,promiseofforgiveness,andnewlife)

2)Redefined:“inner,”or“spiritual”refersto“trustinGod”;“outer”or“fleshly”-allagainstthattrust

3)Penanceisnotlimitedtoaconfessiontoapriest,directlytoGod;relationshipoflove&trust;rejectionofdistractingforces,incl.ecclesiasticalauthorities

Luther’sTheologyT.G.,FOG,Tauler

4)“UnionwithGod”ispossiblehereandnow;bothGraceand“goodworks”areessential.Christasarolemodel.

5)EqualityamongFOG

Luther’sstance4)“Salvation”viaGod’sgiftofGrace,ratherthan“goodworks”alone(Catholicdoctrine).Christ “raises”thebeliever,his“savior.”MancanneverbecomeonewithGod,exceptviafaithinGod’s Word.

5)- Justificationbyfaith (Solafide)-immediateaccesstoGodforall,notjustformysticallygiftedmonks&nuns;noasceticism.-”Universalpriesthood”ofallthebaptized:aprinciple,reducedrespectforclericalhierarchy;context- alettertonobilityinGermany.

Luther’sTheologyT.G.,FOG,Tauler6)Freewillvsfalsefreedom,licentiousness

7)Dualism

8)Preaching–importantforFOG

Luther’sstance6)“Bondage ofthehumanwill”vs“thewillliberatedbytheHolySpiritthroughfaith”7)Oppositeaspectsinhumanlife:twokindsofrighteousness (passive-active);tworealms(heavenly/right-handed- earthly/left-handed;vertical-horizontal)8)Preachingandsermon replacedtheMassatthecenterofchurchworship. GodispresentinScripture,speakstohispeople:1)hasexpectationsforhumanbehavior,2)conveysthebenefitsofChrist’sdeathandresurrection.Bible’stranslationinGerman.Printingrevolution.

BibliographyBiller,Peter.“NorthernCathars andHigherLearning.”TheMedievalChurch:Universities,Heresy,andtheReligiousLife.EssaysinHonour ofGordonLeff,editedbyPeterBillerandBarrieDobson,TheBoydel Press,1999,pp.25-53.

Cheney,Sheldon.“TheMedievalFlowering:EckhartandtheFriendsofGod.”MenWhoHaveWalkedWithGod,DellPublishingCo.,1974,pp.176-211.

Hamilton,Bernard.“TheCathars andChristianPerfection.”TheMedievalChurch:Universities,Heresy,andtheReligiousLife.EssaysinHonour ofGordonLeff,editedbyPeterBillerandBarrieDobson,TheBoydel Press,1999,pp.5-23.

Hoffman,Bengt.TheTheologia Germanica ofMartinLuther.PaulistPress,1980.

Holmes,Edmond.TheAlbigensian orCatharist Heresy:aStoryandaStudy.WilliamsandNorgate,Ltd,.,1925.

Hristova,Rumyana.WilliamBlakeandtheGnosticTraditionofDualism:AspectsoftheInfluenceofBogomilism onBlake'sSystem,SouthernIllinoisUniversityatEdwardsville,AnnArbor,2008,ProQuestDissertations&ThesesGlobal,https://search.proquest.com/docview/304381944?accountid=10777.Jones,Rufus.“TheImmediateForerunners.”TheFloweringofMysticism.TheFriendsofGodintheFourteenthCentury,Hafner PublishingCompany,1971,pp.43-60.

BibliographyKolb,Robert.“HowMartinLutherRevolutionizedBibleStudy.” BibleStudyMagazine,vol.9,no.6,2017,pp.13–17.

Kolb,Robert.“Luther’sHermeneuticsofDistinctions:LawandGospel,TwoKindsofRighteousness,TwoRealms,FreedomandBondage.” TheOxfordHandbookofMartinLuther’sTheology,editedbyRobertKolb,IreneDingel,andL’ubomir Batka,OxfordUP,2014,pp.168-184.

Ladurie,EmmanuelLeRoy.Montaillou.Cathars andCatholicsinaFrenchVillage1294-1324,translatedbyBarbaraBray,PenguinBooks,1978.

Leppin,Volker.“Luther’sRootsinMonastic-MysticalPiety.”TheOxfordHandbookofMartinLuther’sTheology,editedbyRobertKolb,IreneDingel,andL’ubomirBatka,OxfordUP,2014,pp.49-61.

Leppin,Volker.“Luther’sTransformationofMedievalThought:Continutity andDiscontinuity.” TheOxfordHandbookofMartinLuther’sTheology,editedbyRobertKolb,IreneDingel,andL’ubomir Batka,OxfordUP,2014,pp.115-124.

“TheNewMysticism.”HistoryoftheChristianChurch,VolumeVI:TheMiddleAges.A.D.1294-15.ChristianClassicsEtherealLibrary,www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc6.iii.v.ii.html.Accessed19February2017.

Theologia Germanica.Annonymous.ChristianClassicsEtherealLibrary,www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/theologia.html. Accessed15February2017.

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