4 Books That Made a Priest Leave the Church

CCC Discover ^ | May 24, 2017 | Nicholas Davis

[Gamecock]

The year 2017 is the year of Martin Luther—or at least it should be. Nearly 500 years ago on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed (or “mailed,” for some historians debate this point) his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church.

Even so, Luther didn’t become a full-fledged protestor of the church in that single moment. It took him about eight years (1513-1521) to challenge and hammer out a more robust understanding of the gospel.

Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther was reading during this crucial time in his life? Maybe I’m just a nerd, but I thought at least someone else might be interested in what Luther was reading during his slow, but steady, transition out of the medieval church and into the world of reformation.

Remember, Luther’s goal wasn’t to invent or start an entirely new church. His goal was to reform the church and call her to repentance and faith in the abiding Word of God.

Here are four books Martin Luther read that made him question everything:

1. The Psalms Luther spent time studying and lecturing through the Psalms in the Bible. He began to realize that the Bible teaches we are not generally sinful, we are totally sinful. Here, Luther had the beginnings of what theologians later would refer to as “total depravity,” meaning that we are sinful in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

2. Romans After that, Luther lectured through Paul’s letter to the Romans. He came across Romans 1:17, “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” The last part of this verse is a direct quotation from Habakkuk 2:4.

Luther began to see something that he never saw before. He began to see the doctrine of imputation—that we are declared right before God not by our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of another. He began to understand that the righteousness of God that was such a terror to him as a priest (because it told him that he was unholy and unworthy), was actually the righteousness from God that told him he was holy and worthy. God gives this right standing by faith alone. It is a righteousness that is received as a gift and not earned.

3. Galatians It wasn’t until Luther started lecturing through Galatians that he began to realize that faith does not justify us before God. Faith is merely an instrument that God uses. Faith is a tool by which we embrace Jesus Christ as he is offered to us in the gospel.

Faith is, as John Murry once said, “extrospective.” It looks outward—not inward—to embrace the God who gives himself. In other words, faith is only an empty hand. It justifies because it grabs hold of the Jesus who justifies (Rom. 3:26).

4. Hebrews The last book that turned a medieval priest into a true Reformer was the letter to the Hebrews. Luther began to embrace an entirely different understanding of how the Old and New Testaments relate to one another. He realized that the law is not simply the Old Testament and the gospel is the New Testament, but that the gospel of God can be seen as preached throughout both Old and New Testaments.

The same Jesus of the same gospel was offered freely to both Jew and Gentile alike, throughout the whole Bible. Sure, there was a greater and fuller proclamation of that message, such that it went out to the whole world instead of only Israel and their close neighbors—but the gospel was preached nonetheless!

In short, reading and studying the Bible is what ultimately made Martin Luther “protest” the medieval church. Luther was convinced that the Bible was worth listening to. So this year we celebrate the anniversary of a “recovery of the bright light of the gospel.” To God alone be all the glory (Soli Deo Gloria).

[Religion Moderator]

It was much more than that and highly personal.

Your attempt to gloss it over is not accepted.

Take a few days off from posting in the Religion Forum and review in depth the guidelines found by clicking on my name at the bottom of this post.

[Luircin]

Question in private notes.

[MHGinTN]

Protected class ... won’t do any food to report it.

[MHGinTN]

food = good

[af_vet_1981]

If a man says he loves God, whom he has not seen, and hates his brother, whom he has seen, that man does not love God.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

...

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

...

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

First Corinthians, Catholic chapter six, Protestant verses nine to ten,

First Timothy, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verses eight to twelve,

Titus, Catholic chapter two, in its entirety,

as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[af_vet_1981]

If a man says he loves God, whom he has not seen, and hates his brother, whom he has seen, that man does not love God.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

...

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

...

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

First Corinthians, Catholic chapter six, Protestant verses nine to ten,

First Timothy, Catholic chapter two, Protestant verses eight to twelve,

Titus, Catholic chapter two, in its entirety,

as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[papertyger]

Be my guest. Report me to anyone you like.

If you don’t want to hear from me, stop posting. That’s the way FReeRepublic works.

[papertyger]

I see, so your propensity to rely on mind-reading extends into psychohistory. Quite fitting.

I believe it's called (with all that the word implies) "forensics."

You seem frighteningly able to ignore the fact that no one ever heard of (at least) a couple of the "Solas" (Insofar as the way the Reformation defined them) for fifteen hundred years before Luther showed up.

All the speculation about some hidden strain of Protestantism that existed from the time of Christ is just so much wishful thinking on the part of those who will not tolerate themselves to be refuted, even if it's by their own standards.

[MHGinTN]

Not exactly; your insulting, mind reading bilge seems to go un noticed on these threads. And it is not because you have magic semantic skills. As you can see, Luircin is on suspension. Is that why you took an opportunity to ‘instruct’ him, because you knew he could not respond? That’s as chicken as it gets, tyger.

[MHGinTN]

'hidden strain of Protestantism' is a clear nobn sequitur, since the name you prefer using is tied to the false religion of catholiciism 'in protest mode.

Non-institutionalized Christianity has been alive since the Day of Pentecost, despite the growing ISM of your chosen religion seeking to drown out Truth. Your ism didn't get a firm foothold in pagan Rome for more than 100 years, while the Gospel of Grace, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone was spreading world-wide.

If you would try to refute this assertion, why not post documentation instead of just your smarmy insults and denials, chicken?

[MHGinTN]

If you would try to refute this assertion, why not post documentation instead of just your smarmy insults and denials, chicken?

Oops! Make that tyger not chicken

[papertyger]

Not exactly; your insulting, mind reading bilge seems to go un noticed on these threads. And it is not because you have magic semantic skills. As you can see, Luircin is on suspension. Is that why you took an opportunity to ‘instruct’ him, because you knew he could not respond? That’s as chicken as it gets, tyger.

Why is it that a Thumper's first reaction is always to accuse?

I don't suppose it ever occurred to anyone that the reason I'm getting away with all I'm accused of is because the accusations are FALSE, and merely an attempt to go higher up the food chain when actual DEBATE won't yield satisfactory results?

Furthermore, why would ANY person of alleged "goodwill" accuse another of some sort of cowardice FOR REPLYING TO A POST directed specifically at the respondent?

I think it's perfectly reasonable that I'm allowed to address certain posters under the rules of a "hostile witness," as their own actions demonstrate they will NOT willingly cough up information they perceive as detrimental to their worldview.

[MHGinTN]

As far as we see, you have yet to post even one shread of scripture to back up the non-Christian aspects of Catholicism. Your posts consist of denials and insutls. Normally, on religion threads that is not allowed, yet you bilge on, unaddressed. This faux ‘hostile witness’ bilge is just more data missing accusation. The catechism from Catholicism has been posted, showing salvation by works is taught. Yet you don’t even acknowledge the material as posted. You fail.

[papertyger]

Non-institutionalized Christianity has been alive since the Day of Pentecost

Then why was it unheard of for fifteen hundred years?

...while the Gospel of Grace, salvation by faith alone in Christ alone was spreading world-wide. ... If you would try to refute this assertion, why not post documentation instead of just your smarmy insults and denials, chicken?

Because I'm not the one making the claim, YOU are. Therefore, the burden of proving the existence of this unknown sect you refer to is on YOU! (You guys REALLY need to learn the rules to this stuff!)

Go ahead. I'm waiting....

[MHGinTN]

The little tyger says, "I'm waiting", and with the following it will then deny, perhaps because it is ignorant of the Histoery of the spread of Christianity?

The Apostles traveled the known world, even to India (Philip was pierced by a Brahman sword there), spreading the Gospel of Grace, not Romanism. The Romanish 'Church Org' came later, adding pagan sprinklings all along its 'other religion' way.

[papertyger]

The Apostles traveled the known world, even to India (Philip was pierced by a Brahman sword there), spreading the Gospel of Grace, not Romanism.

So where are all these Bibles they OBVIOUSLY would have been required to leave in their wake to be good Sola cultists?

[papertyger]

Again, by the way.

I keep addressing what you wrote and you keep ignoring what I wrote: is that going to continue?