LUTHER (Vol. 1-6). Grisar Hartmann
on Romans. I, nevertheless, think I may appeal in opposition to this view to my preceding statements which touch on all the points raised, more particularly on the change which during the period from 1515 to 1516 occurred in Luther, who in his first Commentary on the Psalms had been much more Catholic-minded. In fixing chronologically the date of the experience described in the Latin Præfatio I have the further advantage of being supported by Luther’s clear and definite statement. As he esteemed his second course on the Psalms so highly (see above, p. 386) and consigned the first to oblivion, it is difficult to imagine that he mistook the one for the other. On the other hand, a mistake as to the sequence of those ideas which had made an impression on him in his youth might easily be explained by advancing years, like his mistakes concerning the time when he first became acquainted with certain authors (for instance, in this case, with Augustine).
[1011] P. 423.
[1012] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 58, p. 370. Cp. pp. 336, 404.
[1013] See above, p. 388, n. 3.
[1014] Volume i., p. 52.
[1015] P. 423.
[1016] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 58, p. 370.
[1017] In the notes to the “Colloquia,” ed. Bindseil, 1, p. 52.
[1018] J. K. Seidemann in his edition of Lauterbach, p. 81.
[1019] See above, p. 393.
[1020] Lisch, in Enders, “Briefwechsel Luthers,” 2, p. 35, n. 2.
[1021] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 53, p. 9. “Briefwechsel,” 2, p. 35.
[1022] H. Stein, “Gesch. des Lutherhauses,” 1883, p. 19.
[1023] See volume iii., xvi., 1, and volume vi., xxxvi., 4.
[1024] “Werke,” Erl. ed., 61, p. 338, “Tischreden.”
[1025] On March 5, 1522, “Werke,” Erl. ed., 53, p. 106 (“Briefwechsel,” 3, p. 296).
[1026] “Dogmengesch.,” 3, p. 812.
[1027] Ibid., p. 846. Harnack (p. 812) urges that Luther’s self-confidence was combined with entire humility with respect to God.
[1028] Ibid.
[1029] “Die Reformation,” 3, p. 186. Döllinger is there speaking of the “doctrine of Imputation,” by which he means the doctrine of faith alone which produces the assurance of salvation.
[1030] So H. Böhmer, “Luther im Lichte der neueren Forschung”², 1910, pp. 45, 57, 58.
[1031] See above, p. 388, n. 3. We can hardly assume that such a statement was an error of the Notes; it is more probable that Luther made a mistake in his verbal delivery.
[1032] In other statements, such as that related by Heydenreich (above, p. 393), he assumes that no doctor was able to supply him with the right explanation: “No one came to open the door,” etc.
[1033] Thus Böhmer, ibid., p. 35.
[1034] Denifle, “Luther und Luthertum,” 1². “Quellenbelege; die abendländischen Schriftausleger bis Luther über iustitia Dei (Rom. i. 17) und iustificatio,” 1905. Among the older interpreters Abailard alone may be an exception.
[1035] Ficker in the Preface, p. lxxix.
[1036] Cp. Böhmer², p. 47: “It is a matter of interest that he refers for the interpretation to a work much used in that period, the ‘Biblia cum glossa ordinaria,’ printed at Basle by Froben, 1508. It is plain that he looked up this gloss on the Epistle.” On the strength of this Böhmer thought himself entitled to say: “The birth-hour of the Reformation falls in the winter 1508-9.... Its birthplace was the Black Monastery at Wittenberg”; but “it was only quite slowly that Luther lived himself into his new religious views.”
[1037] Loofs, “Dogmengesch.”4, p. 688 f. Loofs remarks concerning the statements on Augustine: “Luther was also mistaken with regard to this [the time and the manner of his experience].” My view of the state of the case differs, however, from that of Loofs, Braun, Böhmer, Scheel, etc.
[1038] “Die Reformation,” Lit. Beilage, September, 1905.
[1039] “Theologisches Literaturblatt,” 26, 1905, col. 507.
[1040] To Spalatin, February 24, 1519, “Briefwechsel,” 2, p. 2: “Italicæ subtilitates.”
[1041] Ibid., p. 6.
[1042] Cp. Böhmer², p. 63.
[1043] Böhmer², p. 60.
Volume 2
Table of Contents
CHAPTER XI. THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GREAT APOSTASY
1. Allies among the Humanists and the Nobility till the middle of 1520