Question for all you Link Freaks

[Flipper]

Can someone link me to statements that Martin Luther said that took back his anti-semitic remarks, or apologized for them?

I would be very appreciative.

[ChiRho]

Can someone link me to statements that Martin Luther said that took back his anti-semitic remarks, or apologized for them?

I would be very appreciative.

We're they really anti-semitic? :scratch:

I am unaware of any apologizing.

[SemStudent08]

We're they really anti-semitic? :scratch:

I am unaware of any apologizing.

Oh yeah, some of Luther's writings later in life (http://www.humanitas-international.org/showcase/chronography/documents/luther-jews.htm) are pretty straight forwardly anti-semitic. And no, Luther never rescinded or apologized for those remarks. My church, the ELCA, did though. A link to an artile on that is here (http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/interfaithrelations/jewish/declaration.html).

[SPALATIN]

Oh yeah, some of Luther's writings later in life (http://www.humanitas-international.org/showcase/chronography/documents/luther-jews.htm) are pretty straight forwardly anti-semitic. And no, Luther never rescinded or apologized for those remarks. My church, the ELCA, did though. A link to an artile on that is here (http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/interfaithrelations/jewish/declaration.html).

At least he never wrote an apology to his written work, but it is said that he was rebuked for his remarks and repented publicly at a later time.

When you think about it how would you feel if you gave someone every opportunity to do the right thing and they didn't do it how would you feel. I rather think his polemical style was more of disappointment in the Jews than hatred of them, but unfortunately he used the pen to voice his disappointment and rage against them for their failure to "see the light" and repent.

[Flipper]

Thanks, everyone. I'm the only "Lutheran" on another board and am getting the "you are Lutheran, therefore you are anti-semitic because Luther was anti-semitic" c+r+a+p again.

[SPALATIN]

Thanks, everyone. I'm the only "Lutheran" on another board and am getting the "you are Lutheran, therefore you are anti-semitic because Luther was anti-semitic" c+r+a+p again.

Tell them that Guilt by association runs both ways. :cool:

[Flipper]

Tell them that Guilt by association runs both ways. :cool:


Riiiiigggghhhhhttttt.

But you see, their God is different from my God. :doh:

[BBAS 64]

Thanks, everyone. I'm the only "Lutheran" on another board and am getting the "you are Lutheran, therefore you are anti-semitic because Luther was anti-semitic" c+r+a+p again.

Good Day, Flipper

:doh: I hate that!!

Peace to u,

Bill

[Protoevangel]

Happy birthday Bill!

[Tertiumquid]

Can someone link me to statements that Martin Luther said that took back his anti-semitic remarks, or apologized for them?

I would be very appreciative.

Hi Flipper,

Luther was not "anti-semetic", at Least in a 20-21st Century sense. Luther was born into a society that was anti-Judaic, but it was not the current anti-Judaic type of society that bases it racism on biological factors. Luther had no objections to integrating converted Jews into Christian society. He had nothing against Jews as “Jews.” He had something against their religion because he believed it denied and blasphemed Christ.

Luther began his career favorably to the Jews. In 1523 he published Jesus Christ was born a Jew. He expressed his sympathy to them saying that he would not have become a Christian either if he had been born a Jew under the papacy. He had high hopes that a proper understanding of the gospel would bring the Jews to faith. Luther was very naïve in this, not taking into account the situation of medieval Jewry in Europe. After twenty years of failing to convert the Jews through his writings, Luther became rather virulent in his criticism of the Jews. He believed the stories about the Jews attempts to convert Christians and he saw them as disturbers of the Christian faith. He wrote things no Christian should have written. It should be kept in my mind though that he wrote them from a position far different than current anti-Semitism.

I would not go so far as to malign the entire career of Luther based on Luther’s comments about the Jews. Luther did direct abusive language against these groups: Anabaptists, lawyers, the papacy, and the Jews. Luther felt these four groups were united in the conviction that men were ultimately made right before God by the law. Anabaptism held a moralistic view of the gospel with an emphasis on the heavy burden of righteousness placed upon men in order to be accepted before God. Lawyers made their living by imposing the law. The papacy was viewed as the antichrist, which promoted a false religion with a false view of salvation through obedience to the law. The Jews had a religion based upon works righteousness. When Luther attacked these groups it was an attack on the devil who is the underlying spirit of works righteousness.

Further, “On the Jews and Their Lies” was a response to a letter from Count Schlick of Moravia. The letter contained a Jewish attack against Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Christian exegesis of the Old Testament that the Count wanted answered. Unfortunately, this letter and attack have been lost, so we are unaware of the exact tone of argument Luther was responding to.

The first few sections were Biblical in nature, dealing with biblical arguments put forth by Jews (allegedly). Luther defended Mary in the third section against charges that the Holy Mother was a prostitute, and that her offspring was a demon’s child.

Luther wrote in a polemical tone that used vulgarity and harshness as a deliberate rhetorical tactic. The language used was usually consistent with the tenor of whichever polemical contest he was engaged in. It is also important to understand that Luther thought he was living in the last days, and that the papists, Anabaptists, Jews, and Turks were the Devil’s servants attacking the true church.

I know of no reference in which Luther "apologized" for his comments about the Jews. I highly doubt this actually happened.

God Bless,
James Swan

[Tertiumquid]

At least he never wrote an apology to his written work, but it is said that he was rebuked for his remarks and repented publicly at a later time.


Hi There,


I've read a lot on this issue about Luther. I would be really interested if you had any further information on a "public repenting" of Luther for his anti-Judaic comments.

I think an accurate non-polemical summary from Luther on his attitude toward the Jews was given by him in his Last sermon:


"Now I am going home, and perhaps I will never preach to you again, and I have blessed you and prayed you to stay always close to God's Word ... I see the Jews are still among you. Now we have to deal with them in a Christian manner and try to bring them to the Christian faith that they may receive the true Messiah who is their flesh and blood and of the seed of Abraham—though I am afraid Jewish blood has got watery and wild these days. Yet they must be invited to turn to the Messiah and be baptized in him ... If not then we must not suffer them to remain for they daily abuse and blaspheme Christ. I must not, you must not be a partaker of the sins of others. God knows I have enough to do with sins
of my own, but if they will give up usury and receive Christ we will willingly receive them as our brethren . . . but if they call Mary a whore and Jesus her ******* still we must exercise Christian love towards them that they may be converted and receive our Lord . . . this I tell you as your Landeskind not to be partakers of the sins of others. If they turn from their blasphemies we must gladly forgive them, but if not we must not suffer them to remain."!

I can verify that Luther was "rebuked" by other Reformers for his anti-Jewish sentiment, though some also held similar anti-jewish positions. Most importantly, no one in power really took Luther's severe rhetoric seriously.


Regards, James Swan

[Tertiumquid]

Thanks, everyone. I'm the only "Lutheran" on another board and am getting the "you are Lutheran, therefore you are anti-semitic because Luther was anti-semitic" c+r+a+p again.

Send me the link. I usually can pop the "Luther was Nazi" balloon fairly quickly.


Regards,

James Swan

[Flipper]

Send me the link. I usually can pop the "Luther was Nazi" balloon fairly quickly.


Regards,

James Swan

Thanks for the offer, but I think it's calmed down. It started when I had mentioned that Cardinal Razinger had dialogued with Lutherans, and I thought that was nifty. Someone (actually the board's webmaster), had to go on and on about how many German Nazis were Lutheran. :mad:

[Protoevangel]

I say let them think what they want to about Luther. He is not the one who Justifies us.

Luther himself would often ignore personal slander, but he attacked like a rabid pit bull when the Gospel was maligned.

[Tertiumquid]

I say let them think what they want to about Luther. He is not the one who Justifies us.

Luther himself would often ignore personal slander, but he attacked like a rabid pit bull when the Gospel was maligned.

Hi Dan,

Excellent point. What I find to be the case is that Roman Catholics embrace a theology of glory, which leads them to want to discuss Luther and his "works" or "morality" rather than the Gospel he proclaimed- It is becuase they fundamentally don't understand the foolishness of the Gospel. Rather, they see the "glory" of the Christian life, and evaluate Luther according to works righteousness.

God Bless,
James Swan