SMALCALD ARTICLES

Story Behind the Confession

• The changed circumstances (from 1530): papal intransigence; spreading Lutheranism

• Renewed negotiations with South German Protestants: WITTENBERG CONCORD “Therefore they hold that, where Christ’s institution and command are observed, the body and blood of Christ are truly distributed to the unworthy, too, and they truly receive it.”– The question: What does “unworthy” mean?

• Differences of interpretation– “Unworthy” pertains to the attitude of a

humble believer. (Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.)

– “Unworthy” describes the attitude of an unbeliever. (Whoever does not believe or doubts is unworthy.)

• The two teachings– Sacramentarians granted reception of

Christ’s body to believers only.– Lutherans insisted that, since the word of

Jesus makes the sacrament what it is, his body and blood are received by both believers and unbelievers. Faith does not validate the sacrament but receives it, for the believer a blessing, for the unbeliever a judgment.

D: 32

I. Ecumenical

• Sounds like Athanasian Creed• Mary = semper virgines?

–1215 1st canon

• We emphasize Holy Spirit, not Mary

II. Confrontational

1. Justification

2. The Mass

3. Monasticism

4. The Papacy

1. Justification• The 4 Giants of the Bible

– Romans 4:25– John 1:29– Isaiah 53:6– Romans 3:23-25

• Why is it correct to say that Luther's text is Scripture alone?

• Luther “walks with hob-nailed boots”– Places the papacy in the company of the devil

2. The Mass• The Mass had become the greatest

abomination1. Human invention2. Unnecessary3. A better way4. Abuses5. Human work

• Self-communion??• The decisive issue in the council

The

Mas

s

The

Papa

cy

Roman Church

“This Dragon’s Tail”

1. Purgatory2nd Benchmark: Only the Word of God shall

establish articles of faith.2. Souls of the Departed3. Pilgrimages4. Fraternities5. Relics6. Indulgences

• Invocation of the Saints

3. Monasticism• A short article because monasticism

was in decline• “For all of this, too, is contrary to the

first and chief article concerning redemption in Jesus Christ.”

4. The Papacy• The pope is NOT the head of all

Christendom “by divine right.”• In the papacy the anti-Christian

spirit comes to culmination• The true end-times Antichrist

– Endchrist– Widerchrist

Who is the Antichrist?

• The spirit of heresy• The Roman empire• Nero • Diocletian• Julian• Caligula• Titus• Simon Magus• the Jews• Resurrected Nero• Emperor Frederick II

• A son of Luther• Peter the Great• Rasputin• Secretary-General of the

UN• Militant Islam• Friedrich Nietzsche• Marilyn Manson• Ronald Wilson Reagan

(666)• George W. Bush• David Hasselhoff

The Marks of the Antichrist2 Thessalonians 2

• The pope reigns in the church• Papal teaching contradicts the gospel

1. He assumes the right to alter Christ’s teaching2. He claims power to loose and bind in this life

and authority over souls after this life3. He places his authority above councils4. He defends dreadful errors with the greatest

savagery: Masses, indulgences, saints

D: 33

http://www

http://www

http://www

http://www

Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope

• The bishop of Rome claims:1. Superiority over all bishops and pastors2. Both swords3. Necessary for salvation to believe this

• Scripture and church history reject hierarchy in the church

• Proof passages for hierarchy are misinterpreted– Mt 16:18 and Jn 21:17

The Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

• Scripture does not set up a hierarchy• The right of government is given to the entire

church• Matrimonial cases belong to the jurisdiction of

the government – not the church

III. Conversational

1. Sin 2. The Law3.Repentance4. The Gospel5. Baptism6. Sacrament of the Altar7. The Keys8. Confession

9. Excommunication10. Ordination and

Vocation11. Marriage of priests12. The Church13. Justification and Good

Works14. Monastic Vows15. Human Regulations

1. Concerning Sin

• Original sin = the chief sin

• Fruits of this sin• Believed on the

basis of the Scriptures

• Scholastic teaching:1. Natural powers

uncorrupted2. A free will by nature

3. Ability to keep God’s commands

4. Natural power to love God

5. Do the best you can6. Enough not to have an

evil intention7. Can do good works

without faith

= Pagan teachings

2. Concerning the Law• The message that reveals our sinfulness

1. A curb2. A mirror

3. Concerning Repentance

• The salutary effect of the law as a mirror• Longest article in SA• Active and passive contrition• After the Law come with the Gospel

PENANCE• Contrition• Confession• Satisfaction

“always doing penance but never arriving at repentance”

REPENTANCE• Contrition• Faith

“Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling.”

simul justus et peccator

D: 34-36

4. Concerning the Gospel

1. The spoken Word2. Baptism3. The Sacrament of the Altar4. The Keys5. Mutual conversation

5. Concerning Baptism

• Thomas Aquinas and the Dominicans – the water is spiritualized

• Duns Scotus and the Franciscans – Baptism is turned into a symbol

* * *• Do not exempt infants

from original sin.D: 37 & 38

6. Concerning the Sacrament of the Altar

• Romanists have a partial sacrament; the Reformed have no sacrament

• Substance = what makes a thing what it is

• Accident = attached to a substance Bread and

Wine

Body and Blood

changed to

D: 39

7. Concerning the Keys

• An office and authority given to the church by Christ to bind and loose sins.

8. Concerning Confession• Luther stresses absolution.• Enthusiasts say the Holy Spirit doesn’t need means and so the

Word isn’t necessary.

THE BENCHMARKS OF LUTHERANISM1st Benchmark: All Scripture is Law and Gospel.

(AAC IV:5 p. 83) 2nd Benchmark: Only the Word of God shall

establish articles of faith. (SA II:15 p. 266)3rd Benchmark: God does not deal with us except

through Word and Sacrament. (SA VIII:10 p. 281)

Rejected!! Denied!!

D: 40

9. Concerning Excommunication

• Impenitence = the other side of the Keys• Interdict

10. Concerning Ordination and Vocation

• Who administers the Means of Grace?

11. Concerning the Marriage of Priests

• “so little did they have the power to separate such creatures of God or to forbid them from living together honestly in marriage”

12. Concerning the Church

• “a seven-year-old child knows what the church is: holy believers and the little sheep who hear the voice of their Shepherd”

• Believers gathered around the Means of Grace

13. How a Person is Justified and Concerning Good Works

• The heart and core of Lutheran theology• AC IV and VI combined

14. Concerning Monastic Vows

• What is NOT necessary for justificaion• Monastic vows are equal to baptism??

BLASPHEMY!!

15. Concerning Human Regulations

• Human regulations cannot attain the forgiveness of sins or merit salvation.