Friday, January 10, 2025

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

It is the 10th of January 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

When studying church history, there is no shortage of disagreements and arguments—after all, we are dealing with issues of ultimate concern.

You might know of this Almanac, which attempts to examine these stories from all sides. You might also know some of my own theological views, but I attempt to be as fair as possible.

And, you know, here at 1517, we are generally on the side of the Reformation, so when an opponent of the movement is highlighted, I want to treat them as fairly as possible.

All that to say: oooh boy! I’m tempted to subtitle this show, remembering Johan Cochlaeus's “ How Not to Have a Theological Argument.” Let me explain.

Johan Cochlaeus (of course, that wasn’t his real last name, but a Latin invention) was born in 1479 in Franconia (central Germany) to peasant parents but was able to go to the school in nearby Nurnberg. There, he imbibed the Humanist tradition, which would lead many into the streams of the coming Reformation.

Like his contemporary Martin Luther, Cochlaeus traveled to Rome as an aspirant to the Holy Office. But whereas going to Rome was part of Luther’s story in turning on the Catholic Church, it was the opposite with Cochlaeus. Arriving in 1517, he was ordained in 1518 and soon became one of Luther's loudest critics.

Cochlaeus attended the famous Diet of Worms, where Luther took his stand. He later attended the Diet of Speyer, where the Reformers were first called “Protestants,” and at Augsburg in 1530, when the Lutherans put forth their confession of faith.

Cochleaus would go on to work as a personal secretary for Duke George of Saxony and at various positions in the following years as he took tabs on Luther to produce a constant flurry of attacks and criticisms that would make up his “The Life and Writings of Martin Luther” published in 1549.

This is one of only two first-hand biographical accounts of Luther in book form—the other was published by his coworker Philip Melanchthon. If Melanchthon’s account could be called a “Hagiography”—writing that portrays him as only a saint—Cochlaeus’ account could be called a “Heresiography”—writing that portrays him as only a heretic.

Unfortunately, the manner in which Cochlaeus attacks Luther represents a low point in theological debate (to be fair, it would be joined by unfortunate Pro-Protestant and Pro-Luther works as well).

A famous picture would accompany Cochlaeus’ work—a picture of a seven-headed Luther straight from the book of Revelation. The various heads represent him as a fanatic, a Turk, and a wild Barabbas. This kind of visual slander was common, but his arguments against Luther veered into an attempt to discredit the reformer through personal attacks.  

For instance, Luther’s father was a succubus- a literal demon. He is accused of being the demonic force behind the Peasants War. Luther is accused of indecencies. I blush to mention this program. Finally, his death is given in detail as a loud and painful affair suggesting his deathbed entrance into Hell, that is- according to Cochlaeus, if he didn’t actually commit suicide.

These kinds of personal and earthy condemnations were not uncommon, but Cochlaeus’ diatribes, which purported to list year and offense, were so bizarre they would be dropped, even by later Catholic controversialists who conceded that his works “were written in haste and bad temper, without the necessary revision and theological thoroughness. Consequently, they produced no effect on the masses.” Ouch.

But his life attests to the energy of the early Reformation. While he is not alone in spurious and personal attacks, his work and the famous “7-Headed Luther,” it produced would be a hallmark of the extremes of the Reformation polemic (that is, theological debate).

Born before Luther, he would also outlive him. Cochlaeus died on January 10, 1552, at the age of 72.

 

The last word for today is from the daily lectionary and from 1 Corinthians 2.

6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 10th of January 2025, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose Latinate last name I proclaim: Calidumbibere- he is Christopher Calidumbibere Gillespie. 

The show is written and read by a man whose last name is already difficult and mysterious enough: I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.