On April 14, 1521 Martin Luther wrote the following words in a short letter to Georg Spalatin from Frankfurt-am-Main:<\/p>\n
I am coming, my Spalatin, although Satan has done everything to hinder me with more than one disease.\u00a0 All the way from Eisenach to here I have been sick; I am still sick in a way which previously has been unknown to me.\u00a0 Of course I realize that the mandate of Charles has also been published to frighten me.\u00a0 But Christ lives, and we shall enter Worms in spite of all the gates of hell and the powers of in the air.*<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Two days later, Martin Luther entered Worms.\u00a0 The bells of Worms Cathedral announced his arrival and a large crowd welcomed him.\u00a0 On this two-week journey Luther had preached to overflow crowds in Erfurt, Gotha, and Eisenach.\u00a0 He did become ill during this journey and was even bled.\u00a0 In 1520 Luther\u2019s publications had made him a famous man.\u00a0 However, his writings also led to his excommunication by Pope Leo X in January 1521.<\/p>\n
The young Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, agreed to grant Luther a hearing before the Diet of Worms in 1521.\u00a0 Then, Charles and the diet would decide whether Luther would become an outlaw as a notorious heretic.\u00a0 Diets consisted of large meetings of the princes of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.\u00a0 The German princes (both secular and ecclesiastical leaders) guarded their power and often sought to limit the emperor.<\/p>\n
The imperial officials summoned Luther to address the gathering in the episcopal palace in Worms on the afternoon of April 17.\u00a0 On that morning Luther heard an ailing knight\u2019s confession and celebrated communion with him.\u00a0 When he appeared before the august assembly of the leaders of the imperial estates, Luther did seem intimidated.\u00a0 The official speaker for Charles V asked if Luther acknowledged a group of his published books and if he desired to retract anything written in them.\u00a0 Luther recognized the books as his own.\u00a0 However, he then requested time to consider his answer to avoid \u201cviolence to the divine Word and danger to his own soul.\u201d\u00a0 The imperial court granted Luther one day to consider.<\/p>\n
The following day, April 18, around 6 pm, the imperial spokesman again asked Luther to acknowledge his books and if he wished to retract any of his work.\u00a0 \u00a0Based upon the record of his speech, it’s clear that Luther had used the extra day to refine his answer and perhaps practice his speech.\u00a0 First, he acknowledged that he wrote the books and would not retract the theology expressed therein.\u00a0 Then, Luther explained that his work varied in style and in content.\u00a0 Some of his books, for example, addressed moral and religious topics with which no one disagreed.\u00a0 Luther then explained that other books attacked the papal teachings and corruption.\u00a0 Lastly, he recognized that he had written some books against private individuals and he admitted that he could err.\u00a0 Luther always wanted to focus on the Holy Scriptures as he explained:<\/p>\n
\u201cTo see excitement and dissension arise because of the Word of God is to me clearly the most joyful aspect of all in these matters.\u00a0 For this is the way, the opportunity, and the result of the Word of God, just as He [Christ] said, \u2018I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.\u00a0 For I have come to set a man against his father, etc.\u2019 [Matt. 10:34-35].\u00a0 Therefore, we ought to think how marvelous and terrible is our God in his counsels, lest by chance what is attempted for settling strife grows rather into an intolerable deluge of evils, if we begin by condemning the Word of God.”**<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Luther concluded by reminding his hearers that all must fear God and he commended himself to the emperor and the German princes.\u00a0 \u00a0It was only then in response to the imperial spokesman’s statement that he should give a simple answer that Luther famously proclaimed:<\/p>\n
Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or to councils alone, since it well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God.\u00a0 I cannot and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me. Amen<\/strong>.***<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
*Martin Luther, Letter 71<\/em>, Luther’s Works 48: 198.<\/p>\n
**Luther at the Diet of Worms<\/em>, LW 32: 111.<\/p>\n
***Ibid., 112-113.\u00a0 The last sentence in bold print above is in German in the Latin text.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On April 14, 1521 Martin Luther wrote the following words in a short letter to Georg Spalatin from Frankfurt-am-Main: I am coming, my Spalatin, although Satan has done everything to hinder me with more than one disease.\u00a0 All the way … Continue reading