Luther and the Jews

Lutheran, The, Jan 2004 by Weissenbuehler, Wayne

What caused him to be anti-Semitic?

What caused Martin Luther to write and teach the anti-Semitic philosophy attributed to his life history?

This is one of the saddest chapters in the life of this great reformer. Antipathy toward Judaism and Jewish people was common in Luther's time and place, and though he may have shared many of the common prejudices, his anger against Judaism, strangely enough, has its roots in his passion for the gospel.

Luther was certain that once the Jews could see the clear and gracious message of salvation in Jesus, which had been obscured by the Roman church, they would convert en masse to the Christian faith. When this didn't happen he became increasingly disillusioned and saw them as enemies of the faith who needed to be dealt with by the princes.

His infamous piece, The Jews and Their Lies, appears to have been based on a conversation between a Jew and Christian, in which the author maligns Jesus and Mary and twists Scripture. It portrays Jews as rapacious moneylenders and liars. While the piece is of historical interest, the ideas expressed have been repudiated by the Lutheran church in our day.

In the creeds, why is the singular "I believe" used in the Apostle's Creed and the plural "We believe" in the Nicene?

The Apostle's Creed has a long history of development. It grew out of the Western churches' need for a confession of faith that was succinct, inclusive, could be easily memorized and reflected scriptural teaching concerning God.

The creed usually has been associated in the life and liturgy of the church with baptism, explained to catechumens in the last stage of their preparation for baptism. Since it is used with baptism, which brings us into the body of Christ one person at a time, it's appropriate that it be an individual confession of faith reflecting the faith of the whole church.

The Nicene Creed, on the other hand, was the product of ecumenical councils for the purpose of expressing the corporate orthodox faith of the church to ensure its unity, catholicity and apostolicity. Therefore the plural "we believe" is more appropriate. So it was in its earliest Greek form, and later in Latin. It appears in the liturgy of the old Service Book and Hymnal as "I believe," but when the editors of the Lutheran Book of Worship returned to the older and more original "We believe."

Readers are invited to send questions to "Since You Asked" via e-mail to wayne@bethany-denver.org or to The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183. Space does not allow publication of all questions, but all receive serious consideration. The volume of letters makes personal replies impossible.

Weissenbuehler is a pastor ofBethany Lutheran Church, Englewood, Colo., and former bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod.