August 19: Marburg Continued

In 1529 Philipp called a meeting held at Marburg Castle known as the Marburg Colloquy. The purpose of the meeting was to find theological agreement between the Germans and the Swiss. Because of disagreement between the Germans and the Swiss over the Lord's Supper, Philipp didn't get the agreement (or alliance) he so desperately wanted, but it wasn't for lack of trying on Philipp's part!

In this painting you see Luther pointing at the words he wrote on the table in preparation for this part of the talk with the Swiss: "This is My body." Ulrich Zwingli is gesticulating with Luther. I learned today that the trip to Marburg was dangerous for both Luther and Zwingli because each of them had to travel through Roman Catholic lands to get to Marburg. Philipp is wearing white tights(?) sitting and leaning forward toward the table. 

This is the Great Hall of Marburg Castle which is depicted in the painting. However, our guide insisted that the talks between Luther and Zwingli did not take place in the Great Hall of the castle, but rather in Philipp's own private quarters elsewhere in the castle. 

QUOTE:

Luther had hoped that the Reformation would cause all Christian books other than the Bible to be unnecessary. For this reason he said that if he had his way all of his writings would be burned and lost to posterity except for two: The Bondage of the Will which he wrote against Erasmus, and the Small Catechism which he wrote for children. 

Luther's Large Catechism is an expansion of his Small Catechism, and it is written not for children, but for the pastors who would instruct them. Today's quote comes from the very beginning of the Large Catechism. It is an explanation of the first command of the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

What does it mean to have a god? Or, what is God? Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the whole heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.

NEXT UP: Mainz, Heidelberg, and Worms