Luther's Eschatology and the Turks
Nicholas D.
Proksch, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary
presented at the 45th International Medieval
Congress, May 15, 2010
Abstract
Early on in his career, Luther identified the Turks as an instrument of God to punish unrepentant Christians. Yet in his early theological polemics, he renounced the medieval theological underpinnings for crusades. Luther’s interpretation of prophetic portions of Daniel afforded him the opportunity to understand the Turks as the chastening scourge of God, while advocating defensive war against the Turks by secular rulers. Eschatology based on Daniel formed the basis of Luther’s political and pastoral engagement with the Turks. Yet although he renounced crusades—a sharp departure from medievalism—the origins of his eschatology from Daniel lie with Johannes Hilten (ca. 1425–1500), a Franciscan monk.
It is generally assumed by scholars that Luther viewed the Turks with pessimism that they would engulf Europe with their dominion, but this paper will argue that Luther’s attitudes toward the Turks were based on what he considered to be determined realities derived from prophetic portions of Daniel, as he argues in his Military Sermon of 1529. According to Luther’s interpretation, the Turks will remain the most powerful nation but are prophesied never to conquer any further nations. They may oppress and kill many Christians, but the war will essentially be a stalemate until the Last Days. With these determined realities, Luther made his eschatological understanding into practical and pastoral advice for secular rulers and Christians in general.
