Abstract
Generally speaking Luther speaks of the Church as an external community, bigger than and not dependent on the faithful. It is a community called into existence by God’s Word (through Word and Sacrament). But we need to note how in making this point of the faithful’s dependence on the Church he does at times refer to it in the feminine gender, as Mother. When dealing with polemics against the Catholic hierarchy he speaks of the Church without reference to the priesthood, but in other contexts makes the priesthood a necessary ingredient of the true Church.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ellingsen, M. (2017). Church. In: Martin Luther's Legacy. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58758-9_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58758-9_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-58757-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-58758-9
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)