The study Lehrverurteilungen-kirchentrennend? and its statements on justification: analysis and critique

Abstract

Lehrverurteilungen-kirchentrennend? is a study issued by a group of German theologians in 1986 considering the fundamental church dividing condemnations of the reformation era regarding the doctrines of justification, the sacraments and the ministry. The study sought to investigate whether these condemnations maintain their dividing power even today. Though, generally speaking, it found that they did not, its results are open to question. This thesis investigates whether its statements on justification are tenable. Since the study confined itself to the consideration of Lutheran and Roman-Catholic condemnations, this thesis concentrates on the Lutheran/Roman-Catholic dialogue only. The thesis is divided into the following parts. Section A starts by giving a brief introduction to the mediaeval origins of the discussion of justification in the reformation era. In Chapter II several Roman-Catholic studies on Luther and Protestant studies on the Council of Trent are examined, along with some modern ecumenical approaches to the problem of justification. The concluding chapter of the introduction gives details of the study Lehrverurteilungen-kirchentren- nend? itself. The study's findings can only be criticised on the basis of a thorough investigation of both Luther's and the Council of Trent's account of justification. Therefore section B gives a detailed comparison of Luther's view on justification and the Council of Trent's decree on justification following the seven "distinguishing doctrines" identified by the study. The investigation confirms the distinguishing nature of these doctrines. Section C investigates the study's findings using the same structure as section B. The conclusion of this section is that the study's arguement is in most cases a weak one. Finally section D gives an evaluation of the study.