Martin Luther and his faith in his Scripture
May, 2012
G.D.O'Bradovich III
the essay
Martin Luther's slogan of Sola Scriptura, “only Scripture”, started the reformation in the early 16th century. It was his belief that the church was not needed for the the salvation of souls and confession is not needed because the “Believer” bypasses the priest and connects directly to God.
The Bible, as a compilation of Jewish and Christian writings, must have been a new phenomenon. The received text of the New Testament, as it is called today, was complied in 1516 by Erasmus. This is the text that is typically, although not always, consulted for new translations of the “Bible”. (See The King James Only Bible Movement.)
The following are Bible translations are in the English language and the dates for Erasmus and Luther's contributions have been added for clarification.
The Bible, as a compilation of Jewish and Christian writings, must have been a new phenomenon. The received text of the New Testament, as it is called today, was complied in 1516 by Erasmus. This is the text that is typically, although not always, consulted for new translations of the “Bible”. (See The King James Only Bible Movement.)
The following are Bible translations are in the English language and the dates for Erasmus and Luther's contributions have been added for clarification.
Wycliffe
Erasmus Luther Tyndale Coverdale Matthew's Great Taverner's Geneva Bishop's Douay-Rheims |
1380-1388
1516 1522-1534 1526-1530 1535 1537 1539 1539 1557-1560 1568 1582-1610 |
The Vatican codex was found in the Vatican Library in the 1470's, the Alexandria codex dates from 1679 and the Sinai codex dates from the 1840's. These versions are sometimes used for Biblical translations and none have the authority of continual use from the early church. After 2,000 years, the Orthodox church still does not have a dogmatic canon of scripture and is in no rush to declare what books and what versions of those books should be in the Bible.
Scripture, from Luther's perspective, was innovative and he utilized it extensively. This is supported by the fact that Luther decided what books would be in his version of the Bible. This version has been generally, but not always, carried into other protestant versions of the Bible.
By the early 1500's, which books that constitute the Bible have been decided, not by the church which has existed for 1500 years, but by a monk who left the church.
Luther had such faith in his scripture, that faith in the Bible alone was enough for salvation. Currently, there are over 300 million people who adhere to this philosophy. If Luther's innovation of scripture is correct, there is no harm to millions of people's souls. However, if Luther is incorrect and people do need to have absolution by a priest, as the Roman and Greek churches still practice, then innumerable souls are condemned to perdition.
Per Wikipedia:
Scripture, from Luther's perspective, was innovative and he utilized it extensively. This is supported by the fact that Luther decided what books would be in his version of the Bible. This version has been generally, but not always, carried into other protestant versions of the Bible.
By the early 1500's, which books that constitute the Bible have been decided, not by the church which has existed for 1500 years, but by a monk who left the church.
Luther had such faith in his scripture, that faith in the Bible alone was enough for salvation. Currently, there are over 300 million people who adhere to this philosophy. If Luther's innovation of scripture is correct, there is no harm to millions of people's souls. However, if Luther is incorrect and people do need to have absolution by a priest, as the Roman and Greek churches still practice, then innumerable souls are condemned to perdition.
Per Wikipedia:
Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro is often given credit for first dividing the Latin Vulgate into chapters in the real sense, but it is the arrangement of his contemporary and fellow cardinal Stephen Langton who in 1205 created the chapter divisions which are used today.
They were then inserted into Greek manuscripts of the New Testament in the 15th century. Robert Estienne (Robert Stephanus) was the first to number the verses within each chapter, his verse numbers entering printed editions in 1551 (New Testament) and 1571 (Hebrew Bible).
Chapters were first inserted into Greek manuscripts in the 15th century and, since Greek was not introduced into Germany, France and Italy until the 1480's, this is a true statement as Greek was unknown in western Europe. Chapters were included in the Latin versions (the specific manuscripts are unknown) in the 13th century. After the introduction of Greek into western Europe, chapters were subdivided into verses.
Chapters introduced
Greek introduced Erasmus Martin Luther Roman Catholic Verses introduced Greek Orthodox |
1205
1480's 1516 1534 1546 1551 to 1571 1672 |
Latin Vulgate
Germany, France and Italy Textus Receptus Council Of Trent commences Jerusalem Council |
From the above table, we are expected to believe that the Bible has been in existence since the 4th century and the use of chapters began in 13th century. We are expected to believe that this common book was used for 900 years before Stephen Langton thought it was easier to have subdivisions of chapters and another century before the introduction of verses. If the Bible was known in western Europe, then it would seem few people studied it. Once more scholars were using the Bible, chapters and verses become a convenient and quick way to reference specific passages.
From the Oxford English Dictionary, we learn that the word "Vulgate", when referring to the Bible, is documented only after the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent [1551 AD to 1571 AD] appeals to the Vulgate's antiquity and authority that would not be known in English until 1728 AD.
From the Oxford English Dictionary, we learn that the word "Vulgate", when referring to the Bible, is documented only after the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent [1551 AD to 1571 AD] appeals to the Vulgate's antiquity and authority that would not be known in English until 1728 AD.
Vulgate
Vulgate |
1609
1728 |
Old version, before St. Jerome |
conclusion
If the Biblical canon was established by the time of Luther, then he removed books from the Bible for his version and he was not the first person to combine the Jewish writings with the Gospels.
If the Biblical canon was established by the time of Luther, then the Council of Trent did not need to name the books, since these books were well known from long tradition and public knowledge. The Council of Trent could have stated that since everyone knows the books of the Bible, the council will not comment on Luther's action of removing books from the Bible, however the council appealed to the authority of several ancient councils.
If the Biblical canon was long established by the time of Luther, the Orthodox Church would not have needed to issue a statement on which books were canon, since these books were well known from long tradition and public knowledge.
Therefore, we must conclude, that the Biblical canon was not decided upon long before Luther, because the Bible [combining the Jewish writings with the Gospels and Epistles] did not exist and Luther created the Bible. In the Orthodox Church lectionary, the majority of the New Testament is read during the Divine Liturgy throughout the year, although there are NO quotes from the Book of Revelation. Although Luther's Bible contains the Book of Revelations, this omission of any quotes by the Orthodox Church lectionary provides evidence that the Book of Revelation dates from after the split between the Orthodox and Roman Churches.
At the Council of Trent, the Roman Church was reacting to Luther's creation of the Bible. A century later at the Council of Jerusalem, the Greek Churches were reacting to both Martin Luther's Bible and Roman Church's pronouncement of Biblical Canon. The Council of Jerusalem in 1672 was NOT an Ecumenical Council and any pronouncements are not Doctrine.
Based on the behavior of Luther and the Roman and Greek churches as shown above, modern theologians and apologetics who quote and appeal to the authority of innumerable ancient church Fathers (at least 135 per Wikipedia) who refer to individual books can not have any historical veracity.
If the Biblical canon was established by the time of Luther, then the Council of Trent did not need to name the books, since these books were well known from long tradition and public knowledge. The Council of Trent could have stated that since everyone knows the books of the Bible, the council will not comment on Luther's action of removing books from the Bible, however the council appealed to the authority of several ancient councils.
If the Biblical canon was long established by the time of Luther, the Orthodox Church would not have needed to issue a statement on which books were canon, since these books were well known from long tradition and public knowledge.
Therefore, we must conclude, that the Biblical canon was not decided upon long before Luther, because the Bible [combining the Jewish writings with the Gospels and Epistles] did not exist and Luther created the Bible. In the Orthodox Church lectionary, the majority of the New Testament is read during the Divine Liturgy throughout the year, although there are NO quotes from the Book of Revelation. Although Luther's Bible contains the Book of Revelations, this omission of any quotes by the Orthodox Church lectionary provides evidence that the Book of Revelation dates from after the split between the Orthodox and Roman Churches.
At the Council of Trent, the Roman Church was reacting to Luther's creation of the Bible. A century later at the Council of Jerusalem, the Greek Churches were reacting to both Martin Luther's Bible and Roman Church's pronouncement of Biblical Canon. The Council of Jerusalem in 1672 was NOT an Ecumenical Council and any pronouncements are not Doctrine.
Based on the behavior of Luther and the Roman and Greek churches as shown above, modern theologians and apologetics who quote and appeal to the authority of innumerable ancient church Fathers (at least 135 per Wikipedia) who refer to individual books can not have any historical veracity.