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De captivitate babylonica ecclesiae / praeludium Martini Lutheri; Title page recto

On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church

Catholic Church

Controversial literature--Protestant authors

Unlike his Open Letter to the Christian Nobility, this more theologically nuanced work is composed in Latin (though there were German editions) and addressed to a specialist audience in a more measured tone. Citing the Bible as evidence, Luther argues that the number of sacraments should be reduced from seven to three (and finally to two), thereby removing major pillars upon which the structure of the medieval way of life had been erected. In particular, he attacks the Church’s doctrine, which drew on Aristotelian categories, of the "transubstantiation" of bread and wine at Communion, instead insisting that "the Holy Spirit is greater than Aristotle." The work articulates ideas that would come to define many Protestant traditions, but also prove to be sources of ongoing division among them.

Luther, Martin, 1483-1546

Melchior Lotter d.j.

6. Oktober, 1520]

No Copyright - United States

Latin

Still Image

4583009

1520-10-06

Vuittembergae [i.e. Wittenberg

books

[87] pages ; 21 cm

Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University

Union Rare Pamphlets

GT2 1520cb

original filename:1900200038

Title page with woodcut border by Hans Cranach

Initial

recto, title page

reformatted digital