Martin Luther's Heidelberg Disputation and Its Contemporary Relevance (original) (raw)

2019, KTS Journal, Kerala, India

Abstract

(1483-1546) stands as one of the giant figures in history. His activities, writings, and legacy had a huge effect on the western world. Currently, Martin Luther influences again in the field of theology through countless articles, journals, and books while the theological world celebrated the 500 th anniversary year of Reformation. During the last five decades due share of attention has been given by theologians to know how the German theologian, Martin Luther, could develop, change, and turn the theological history by his unwavering attempt in articulating theology. All these attempts had seemingly focused on Luther's slogan Sola at Wittenberg, and thereby neglecting his disputation at Heidelberg. Heidelberg Disputation draws theologians to conclude that Luther's most critical document of the Reformation was not his 95 theses at Wittenberg, but the deeper reflection of the central issues of his theses that he presented at Heidelberg. In Heidelberg's disputation, Luther attempted to replace the medieval scholastic theological concept, which he himself called, "Theology of Glory", and made a legacy by placing his distinctive theological concept, the Theology of the Cross. This article discusses mainly on the theological aspects of Heidelberg Disputation and its contemporary relevance in the field of Theology. The Historical Context of Heidelberg Disputation Luther's disputation at Heidelberg is unique in itself while comparing his first confrontation at Wittenberg. Philip Voerding, a former American Christian author writes that during Luther's era it was common to nail the invitations to the Church door as part of invitation for a scholarly debate. 1 Alister McGrath, a Northern Irish theologian, also pointed out that the posting of theses for academic disputation, even where these related to theological matters, was commonplace in German university life at the time of Luther. 2 However, Heidelberg disputation was not the way as same as he had earlier, it was a given opportunity for Luther to explain his views, predominantly to his brother monks, but it became popular than the earlier. Deanna A. Thompson, Professor of Religion at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota alludes that after Luther had posted his 95 theses in Wittenberg in 1517, the German Augustinian order held its General Chapter meeting in the southwestern German city of Heidelberg in April 1518. 3 By this time, Luther was under a great cloud of controversy 4 and he knew that his writings may affect again controversy near and far. 5

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