26
May 1536 A.D. Wittenberg
Concord Crafted But Ultimately Doomed
Graves, Dan. “Wittenberg Concord on Body
and Blood.” Christianity Today. Apr
2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1501-1600/wittenberg-concord-on-body-and-bread-11629960.html.
Accessed Apr 24, 2014.
Luther arrived to the Wittenberg
conference with dark suspicions in his mind. Just when agreement between German
and Swiss Protestants seemed to be on track, Heinrich Bullinger had issued a
new edition of Ulrich Zwingli's work, praising a man whose theology Luther loathed. And Martin
Bucer, who was spearheading this reconciliation, had penned the preface to an
edition of Oecolampadius' letters. Oecolampadius held Zwinglian views. What kind
of signal were these two sending? Well he, Luther, wouldn't back down an inch
from his doctrine!
Martin Bucer had worked for seven
years to bring off this conference between Lutheran and Swiss theologians.
Protestants were divided on how to view the sacraments. Some felt Christ's body
and blood were actually present in the bread and wine. Others said the bread
and wine were no more than symbols. Because of this disagreement, Protestants
found it hard to fellowship with each other. Martin Bucer was convinced that
agreement could be reached and said so to anyone who would listen and some who
wouldn't.
At first few seemed interested.
But Bucer persisted. His optimism had its effect. He had a good talk with
Luther's right hand man, Philip Melanchthon, and Melanchthon became hopeful.
Luther himself began to think that disagreements could be worked out.
Then the publication of the two
books slapped him in his face. When the meeting got under way, he said he'd not
take up any other discussion until the difficulties over the Lord's Supper
(Eucharist) were resolved.
After Bucer protested his
innocence against Luther's suspicions, Luther questioned other Swiss delegates.
Finally, he was satisfied that there was indeed substantial agreement.
Melanchthon, sure that nothing good could come from the meeting, had tried to
block it from opening and showed up late. Luther asked Melanchthon to draft an
agreement.
Still doubtful about the whole
thing, Melanchthon did as asked. He presented the draft of a concord on this
day, May 26, 1536. It stated that
Christ's real body was taken with the bread--essentially the Lutheran position.
Those who took it unworthily damned themselves.
That Sunday, Swiss and Lutherans
joined in communion together. On Monday the delegates signed the concord with
the understanding that it would not go into effect until their churches agreed
and everyone left Wittenberg hopeful of ultimate agreement.
It was a hope doomed to
disappointment. Bucer had given Luther a copy of the Swiss confession of faith.
Luther could not accept it. And earlier, Luther had called the now-dead Zwingli
a Nestorian, an insult the Swiss were unwilling to overlook. The moment for
agreement passed. Polite discussion continued for some years, but in the end,
Bucer himself lost interest and the effort died.
Bibliography:
- Manschreck, Clyde Leonard. Melanchthon, the Quiet Reformer. New York, Abingdon Press, 1958.
- "Wittenberg, Concord of." Schaff-Herzog New Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker, 1949 - 1950.
- "Wittenberg, Concord of." The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited by F. L. Cross and E. A. Livingstone. Oxford, 1997.
- Various internet articles.
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