WITTENBERG, CONCORD OF.
Efforts of Butzer (§ 1). Meeting at Cassel (§ 3). Butzer’s Formula (§ 2). Conference at Wittenberg (§ 4). Result of the Conference (§ 5).
The Concord of Wittenberg was an attempt of the sixteenth century toward an’ agreement on the Lord’s Supper between the Saxons and representatives of Upper Germany and Switzerland. The preliminary history, until the fall of 1529, is that of the
Marburg Conference (see MArBuRG, CONFERENCE or). This rather deepened the prejudices and brought to light the diversity of point of view than paved the way for agreement. The
1. Efforts diet of Schmalkald toward the end of of Butzer. 1529 led to a complete rupture with South Germany. A renewed attempt
at reconciliation at the diet at Nuremberg (1530) failed on account of the attitude of the council of that city,and an agreement was no longer deemed possible. Each estate approached the Augsburg diet (see AUGSBURG CONFESSION AND irs ApoLogy) armed for its own justification; and, as it has proved, the Saxon plan contemplated at the outset a special confession in the narrowest sense. The elector and his theologians had in mind to present their domestic church affairs and their loyalty in the most favorable light, and, in the specific renunciation of the Zwinglian teaching, to make their open appeal to the emperor as the protector of pure doctrine and religious peace. Although under the stress of cireumstances and the influence of Philip of Hesse, supported by Hesse, Liineburg, Brandenburg, Anhalt, Nuremberg, and Reutlingen, Melanchthon’s preamble to the ‘‘Saxon Apology” was laid aside and the severest strictures against the “‘sacramentarians” were mitigated, yet the aversion to Zwingli and the South Germans remained unchanged. Melanchthon took every opportunity in public and private letters to warn against the so-called heresy, and their presumed connivance against the emperor enhanced the anxiety not to be taken in the same category as the South Germans and Zwingli. On the contrary the Strasburg delegates to the Diet of Augsburg had been ordered to emphasize that the difference on the doctrine of the Lord’s Supper should be no reason for a separation among the Evangelicals. Feeling the need of the aid of their own preachers, they secured the presence of Martin Butzer and Wolfgang Capito (qq.v.), a consequence of which was the Tetrapolitan Confession (q.v.). Butzer now made the harmonizing of the parties his life purpose. A conference sought with Melanchthon was refused. Johann Brenz (q.v.) first acceded to a disputation with the Strasburg contingent, which insisted that the variance was only one of words. Butzer tried to make the same clear in a conference with the Saxon Chancellor Briick, and further in two letters, which were passed on to Melanchthon, who finally acceded to a correspondence (July 25), with the result that he rejected the Strasburg overture with the charge that they made a ‘“‘pretense”’ by affirming the real presence and then qualifying it with the addition, “by the contemplation of faith.” Successful elsewhere, Butzer ultimately (after Aug. 22) brought it to a conference with Melanchthon. The result was that Butzer considered himself agreed with Melanchthon and wrote to that effect, while the latter advised him to transmit his views in the form of articles to Luther, and he himself informed Luther that ‘“‘Butzer desires to accede to our opinion,” and that he held that the body of Christ is really present in the bread by ordination. To the propositions transmitted to Luther, the latter replied to Melanchthon (Sept. 11) from Coburg that he would
RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA
Witherspocn Wittenberg
not reply to Butzer. Not more encouraging were the reports of Capito who had been sent with compromise propositions to Basel and Zurich. Undaunted, the Strasburg company resolved to send Butzer to Luther, by whom he was cordially received at Coburg (Sept. 25). But Luther refused to be convinced that he and his associates had always taught: as Butzer now explained his doctrine, and he could not induce Luther to a joint signature to articles to be proposed, as all depended upon the interpretation. Luther, however, was inspired with hope, and Butzer, departing after two days, much encouraged, proceeded by way of Nuremberg, where he had a friendly consultation with Melanchthon and Andreas Osiander, to the towns of Upper Germany on behalf of the concord. Here his amiable approach and eloquence overcame all hesitation. Even Zwingli’s assent was yielded, upon urging, to the formula: “‘The real body of Christ is truly offered.” Returning home, greatly elated, by way of Basel, where he met with the heartiest accord of Gicolampadius, he undertook to draft a formula satisfactory to both parties. Thus there originated a document of concord in the form of a letter to Duke Ernst of Liineburg, which stated, after reaffirm-
2. Butzer’s ing that the strife was one of words, Formula. that the true body and the true blood of Christ are truly present in the Lord’s
Supper, offered with the words of the Lord and the sacrament, and that upon the minister devolved nothing but the outer service of word and token, the inner blessing and the bread of heaven being given of God alone, and being therefore alone vital. Zwingli, meantime, had become suspicious, and personally objected to the formula on the ground that simple people would conceive the expression, “true body of Christ,” always ‘‘as if they ate the body, chewing it with the teeth, as Luther also taught.’”’ He, however, would not object to the transmission of the document to Duke Ernst, reserving, however, in case of alleged recall, the privilege of reference to the statement made. Depending on this, and in view of the endorsement of his letter put forth by the council at Strasburg (Dec. 31, 1530), while a somewhat altered copy of the confession was forwarded to the elector of Saxony, Butzer not only assumed to depend on the support of the Swiss but also undertook their defense. Luther, who received the formula from the elector (Jan. 21, 1531), excluded the Swiss from his reply to Butzer and the South Germans, expressed his gratification at so much agreement, but marveled at the © hesitation to admit the eating of the body also by unbelievers, a point on which he stated that he must remain steadfast. He would, however, await further divine guidance, without presuming a full and sound concord. Though no concord, yet a certain truce was thus accomplished, one result of which was the admission of the adherents of the Tetrapolitana to the Schmalkald League. An attempt during the early months of the League at a union with the Swiss failed. The Wittenberg party, however, expected more of Strasburg, which on account of the Swiss internal turmoil and from political reasons began to gravitate more northward. In the towns of Upper Germany the work of conciliation at the
Wittenberg