Article #273-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Smalcald Articles, by Martin Luther

Fifthly. But since the Mass is nothing else and can be nothing
else (as the Canon and all books declare), than a work of men
(even of wicked scoundrels), by which one attempts to
reconcile himself and others to God, and to obtain and merit
the remission of sins and grace (for thus the Mass is observed
when it is observed at the very best; otherwise what purpose
would it serve?), for this very reason it must and should
[certainly] be condemned and rejected. For this directly
conflicts with the chief article, which says that it is not a
wicked or a godly hireling of the Mass with his own work, but
the Lamb of God and the Son of God, that taketh away our sins.

But if any one should advance the pretext that as an act of
devotion he wishes to administer the Sacrament, or Communion,
to himself, he is not in earnest [he would commit a great
mistake, and would not be speaking seriously and sincerely].
For if he wishes to commune in sincerity, the surest and best
way for him is in the Sacrament administered according to
Christ's institution. But that one administer communion to
himself is a human notion, uncertain, unnecessary, yea, even
prohibited. And he does not know what he is doing, because
without the Word of God he obeys a false human opinion and
invention. So, too, it is not right (even though the matter
were otherwise correct) for one to use the common Sacrament of
[belonging to] the Church according to his own private
devotion, and without God's Word and apart from the communion
of the Church to trifle therewith.

This article concerning the Mass will be the whole business of
the Council. [The Council will perspire most over, and be
occupied with this article concerning the Mass.] For if it
were [although it would be] possible for them to concede to us
all the other articles, yet they could not concede this. As
Campegius said at Augsburg that he would be torn to pieces
before he would relinquish the Mass, so, by the help of God,
I, too, would suffer myself to be reduced to ashes before I
would allow a hireling of the Mass, be he good or bad, to be
made equal to Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, or to be
exalted above Him. Thus we are and remain eternally separated
and opposed to one another. They feel well enough that when
the Mass falls, the Papacy lies in ruins. Before they will
permit this to occur, they will put us all to death if they
can.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Smalcald Articles by Martin Luther**

1. Context of the Source

The Smalcald Articles (1537) were written by Martin Luther as a theological statement for an intended ecumenical council (which never materialized) to address reforms in the Christian Church. Composed during the Protestant Reformation, this work was meant to define key Lutheran doctrines in opposition to Catholic teachings, particularly on justification by faith alone (sola fide), the authority of Scripture (sola Scriptura), and the rejection of sacramental works as a means of salvation.

The excerpt provided focuses on Luther’s rejection of the Roman Catholic Mass, which he argues is a human invention that undermines the Gospel of grace. This was a central dispute between Protestants and Catholics, as the Mass was (and remains) a cornerstone of Catholic worship, viewed as a sacrifice that re-presents Christ’s atonement. Luther, however, saw it as a corruption of the Lord’s Supper, turning it into a meritorious work rather than a means of grace received by faith.

2. Themes in the Excerpt

A. The Mass as a Human Work vs. Divine Grace

Luther’s primary argument is that the Mass is a human invention that contradicts the Gospel. He states:

"the Mass is nothing else and can be nothing… than a work of men (even of wicked scoundrels), by which one attempts to reconcile himself and others to God, and to obtain and merit the remission of sins and grace."

Key Idea: The Mass, in Catholic teaching, is seen as a sacrifice that can earn grace for the living and the dead. Luther rejects this, arguing that salvation is by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone (sola fide), not by human works.
Biblical Basis: Luther contrasts the Mass with Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14), arguing that no human ritual can add to Christ’s atonement.
Theological Conflict: The Catholic Church teaches that the Mass is Christ’s sacrifice made present, while Luther sees it as a human attempt to manipulate God’s favor.

B. The Sacrament as God’s Word, Not Human Devotion

Luther critiques the idea of private, self-administered Communion (a practice some Catholics engaged in for personal devotion):

"if any one should advance the pretext that as an act of devotion he wishes to administer the Sacrament… to himself, he is not in earnest… For if he wishes to commune in sincerity, the surest and best way for him is in the Sacrament administered according to Christ's institution."

Key Idea: The Lord’s Supper (Communion) must be grounded in Scripture and the Church’s communal practice, not individual piety.
Rejection of Private Masses: Luther opposes the private Mass (a common Catholic practice where priests celebrated Mass alone for the dead or personal devotion), calling it "uncertain, unnecessary, yea, even prohibited."
Authority of Scripture: He insists that only what is commanded in Scripture (Christ’s institution in Matthew 26:26-28) is valid, rejecting human traditions that lack biblical support.

C. The Mass as the Central Battlefield of the Reformation

Luther declares:

"This article concerning the Mass will be the whole business of the Council… For if it were possible for them to concede to us all the other articles, yet they could not concede this."

Key Idea: The Mass was the most contentious issue between Protestants and Catholics. If the Mass fell, the entire papal system (with its priestly hierarchy, indulgences, and sacramental economy) would collapse.
Political & Theological Stakes: Luther quotes Campeggi (a papal legate at the Diet of Augsburg, 1530), who said he would "be torn to pieces" before giving up the Mass. Luther responds that he would "be reduced to ashes" before allowing the Mass to be equal to Christ.
Irreconcilable Divide: Luther sees the Mass as idolatry—elevating a human ritual to the level of Christ’s redemptive work. This was non-negotiable for him.

3. Literary Devices & Rhetorical Strategies

A. Direct, Combative Language

Luther’s tone is uncompromising and polemical, using:

Strong adjectives: "wicked scoundrels," "false human opinion," "trifle therewith" (to emphasize the corruption of the Mass).
Hyperbole: "reduced to ashes" (to show his absolute refusal to compromise).
Parallelism: "They feel well enough that when the Mass falls, the Papacy lies in ruins." (A cause-and-effect structure to show the inevitability of the Papacy’s collapse if the Mass is rejected.)

B. Biblical & Theological Contrast

Luther juxtaposes the Mass with Christ’s work:

"the Lamb of God and the Son of God, that taketh away our sins" (John 1:29) vs. "a wicked or a godly hireling of the Mass with his own work."
This sharp contrast reinforces his argument that human works cannot replace divine grace.

C. Appeal to Authority (Scripture vs. Tradition)

Luther rejects human tradition in favor of Scripture alone (sola Scriptura):
"without the Word of God he obeys a false human opinion and invention."
He dismisses private devotion if it lacks biblical warrant, showing his Reformation principle that only what is commanded in Scripture is valid.

D. Prophetic Warning & Apocalyptic Tone

Luther frames the conflict in eschatological terms (a battle for the true Church):
"Thus we are and remain eternally separated and opposed to one another."
He suggests that the Papacy will resist to the death, foreshadowing persecution (which Protestants indeed faced).

4. Significance of the Excerpt

A. Theological Impact

Rejection of Sacramental Works: Luther’s argument undermines the Catholic doctrine of the Mass as a propitiatory sacrifice, reinforcing justification by faith alone.
Redefinition of the Lord’s Supper: For Luther, Communion is a means of grace (Christ’s real presence received by faith), not a human work that earns salvation.
Challenge to Papal Authority: By attacking the Mass, Luther strikes at the heart of the Catholic Church’s power structure, which relied on priestly mediation and sacramental economy.

B. Historical & Political Consequences

Irreconcilable Division: This text shows why Protestant-Catholic reconciliation was nearly impossible—the Mass was non-negotiable for both sides.
Influence on Protestant Worship: Luther’s views led to simplified, vernacular Communion services (rather than Latin Masses), shaping Lutheran and Reformed liturgy.
Persecution & Conflict: The uncompromising stance on the Mass contributed to religious wars (e.g., the Thirty Years’ War) and persecution of Protestants by Catholic authorities.

C. Modern Relevance

Ongoing Debates: The nature of the Eucharist remains a dividing line between Catholics, Lutherans, and Reformed Christians.
Sola Scriptura vs. Tradition: Luther’s argument reflects the Protestant rejection of extra-biblical traditions, a debate that continues in ecumenical dialogues.
Worship Practices: Many evangelical churches today emphasize Communion as a memorial (following Zwingli) or a means of grace (following Luther), while Catholics and Orthodox maintain the sacrificial Mass.

5. Conclusion: Luther’s Unyielding Stand

This excerpt captures Luther at his most defiant, rejecting the Mass as a human corruption of the Gospel. His arguments are:

Theological – The Mass contradicts justification by faith.
Biblical – It lacks Scriptural support as a sacrifice for sins.
Polemic – He condemns it in the strongest terms, seeing it as idolatry.
Prophetic – He foresees that the Mass is the issue on which the Church will stand or fall.

Luther’s unwillingness to compromise on this issue defined the Reformation, ensuring that Protestantism would be a distinct movement rather than a reform within Catholicism. His words here are not just theological debate but a battle cry for a new understanding of Christianity—one centered on Christ’s finished work, not human rituals.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s depiction of the Mass as “a work of men (even of wicked scoundrels)” primarily serves to:

A. expose the moral hypocrisy of clergy who perform the Mass while leading sinful lives.
B. underscore the futility of all human ritual in achieving spiritual reconciliation.
C. contrast the corruption of institutional religion with the purity of personal devotion.
D. argue that the Mass’s validity depends entirely on the moral character of the priest.
E. dismantle the theological premise that human agency can mediate divine grace.

Question 2

When Luther states that administering Communion to oneself is “uncertain, unnecessary, yea, even prohibited,” his core objection is most aligned with which of the following principles?

A. The sacrament’s efficacy is nullified when detached from communal worship.
B. Individual piety is inherently suspect unless validated by ecclesiastical authority.
C. Private religious practices inevitably lead to spiritual arrogance and self-deception.
D. The Lord’s Supper must be a public testimony to avoid the secrecy of heretical rites.
E. Sacramental validity derives from adherence to Christ’s instituted form, not human innovation.

Question 3

The phrase “Thus we are and remain eternally separated and opposed to one another” functions rhetorically to:

A. lament the tragic schism within Christendom as an irreversible historical outcome.
B. frame the conflict as a cosmic struggle between divine truth and satanic deception.
C. appeal to the Council’s sense of duty to resolve the dispute through doctrinal compromise.
D. emphasize the personal enmity between Luther and Catholic leaders like Campegius.
E. declare the Mass a non-negotiable doctrinal boundary marking true and false Christianity.

Question 4

Luther’s assertion that “when the Mass falls, the Papacy lies in ruins” implies which of the following about the relationship between the Mass and papal authority?

A. The Mass is a political tool used by the papacy to control the laity through fear and obligation.
B. The papacy’s theological legitimacy is contingent upon the Mass as its sacramental foundation.
C. The economic power of the Church depends on the Mass’s role in generating revenue through indulgences.
D. The Mass symbolizes the papacy’s claim to temporal power, which Luther seeks to dismantle.
E. Without the Mass, the papacy would lose its primary mechanism for enforcing clerical celibacy.

Question 5

The passage’s tone is primarily shaped by its:

A. ironic juxtaposition of the Mass’s claimed holiness with its actual profanity.
B. systematic refutation of Catholic doctrine through logical and scriptural counterarguments.
C. pastoral concern for the spiritual well-being of those misled by false sacramental practices.
D. apocalyptic urgency, framing the dispute as an existential battle for the soul of the Church.
E. scholarly detachment, analyzing the Mass as a historical phenomenon rather than a theological error.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The passage’s focus is not on the moral failings of priests (A) or the general futility of ritual (B), but on the theological impossibility of human works (even well-intentioned ones) mediating grace. Luther’s argument hinges on the exclusive sufficiency of Christ’s atonement versus the Mass as a human attempt to “merit” grace. This directly targets the sacramental system’s claim to mediate salvation, which E captures. The phrase “wicked scoundrels” is not a moral indictment but a theological one: even the best human effort cannot replace Christ’s work.