2. Chronological Conspectus
Having completed the first reading of the volume with observation of the preliminary items mentioned above, the reader may then well seek to comprehend the subject matter from a general chronological viewpoint. Fortunately, the work of Lindsay contains a very excellent chronological summary from page 490 on. It will be observed that the events are listed in parallel columns, representing various movements during the sixteenth century. This summary may be studied to advantage, and will be a great aid in fixing the important events of the German Reformation in the mind, arranged in chronological sequence. Of course no one should attempt to memorize all the dates. The important ones should be singled out and underscored, and it would be well to write them into the margin of the book at their respective places.
The question may be raised as to which are the more important dates. The first reading of the book should have emphasized those for the student. Furthermore, the table of contents makes them prominent, too, though the dates are not given there. It would be well, therefore, to insert the figures in the table of contents. Such an exercise would not only be helpful by way of mental drill, but would make the table of contents more useful for review purposes.
I have always found that an arrangement of any historical period into epochal divisions is one of the most helpful devices toward the acquisition- of a comprehensive understanding of that period. In the main, the chapter divisions of the table of contents delineate such epochs in the subject before us. However,
I do not feel that the epochs are adequately brought out, so I should like to list them more specifically at this point, taking into consideration the course of the Lutheran movement apart from the early years of Luther's life.
(See PDF for list)
3. The General Background
-Before returning to a closer study of the subject in its outstanding phases, a second and more careful reading of Book I, chapters 1-6, should be made. The materials presented by the author in these chapters are well selected and interpreted in a clear and well-balanced way. The ecclesiastical, political, social, and intellectual aspects of the fifteenth and sixteenth century life are there well discussed. Inasmuch as great emphasis has been placed upon the political aspects of the Lutheran movement, it would be well to pay especial attention to these items. Observe, therefore, very closely what is set forth regarding the political factors on pages 40, 112, 252, 326, and 376. Other passages may be found with the aid of the alphabetical index. From the data given in these passages it will be readily seen that an attempt to explain the origin and course of the German Protestant movement from the viewpoint of political and social factors would be wholly inadequate, It was primarily a religious revolution, in spite of the prominence of certain political elements in it.
4. The Issues
It is possible for one to have a fair knowledge of the history of the Reformation, at least as a course of events, without really comprehending the fundamental issues over which the great controversy raged. Fortunately, the book before us is one which clearly portrays the issues at stake. These issues concerned the very heart of religious experience. Study therefore the profound statements given on pages 192, 193, 239 (notice the sentence, "He had struck at its center; at its ideas of a priestly mediation which denied the right of every believer to immediate entrance into the very presence of God"), and page 435 onward, in which are set forth Luther's views on the universal priesthood of believers, justification by faith, and other of his characteristic doctrinal positions.
5. Rational Considerations
Much of the doctrinal polemics waged was not over matters of individual experience alone, but revolved around theological definitions and ideas, as they had come down from medieval scholasticism. On this background should be studied the dogmatic aspects of the work of Luther and his associates. The various conceptions which fell into the controversy are set forth on pages 167, 199-205, in which Luther's theological studies at the university are analyzed; 206 and 468-480, in which the theology of the person of Christ is discussed on the background of the historical Christologies.
6. Definition of Theological Concepts
This point may properly be regarded as coming under the above topic, but it is listed here separately for the purpose of suggesting that a careful study should be made of the delicate shades of doctrinal definition on controverted subjects. This study should be done carefully and without bias, for the purpose of understanding the various viewpoints which are represented on the opposing sides of the conflict. How near did they approach each other? Were the ideas sometimes essentially alike, and different largely only in terms? Notice also how important is an accurate apprehension as well as definition of a theological point.
Important materials appear on pages 210, 325, 429-435, 471ff. It would be well also to study carefully the passages on the "Confessions" of the Reformation, particularly in view of the fact that these are still the dogmatic bases of modern Protestant denominations which took their beginnings in the Reformation. For the respective pages, see the index.
(To be continued)
