"heavenly Theologians": The Place Of Angels In The Theology Of Martin Luther

318 Pages·2016·2.06 MB·English

Marquette University
e-Publications@Marquette
Dissertations (2009 -) Dissertations, Theses, and Professional Projects
"heavenly Theologians": The Place Of Angels In
The Theology Of Martin Luther
Christopher J. Samuel
Marquette University
Recommended Citation
Samuel, Christopher J., ""heavenly Theologians": The Place Of Angels In The Theology Of Martin Luther" (2014).Dissertations (2009
-).Paper 359.
http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations_mu/359
“HEAVENLY THEOLOGIANS”: THE PLACE OF ANGELS IN THE THEOLOGY OF
MARTIN LUTHER

by

Christopher J. Samuel

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School,
Marquette University,
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 2014
ABSTRACT
“HEAVENLY THEOLOGIANS”: THE PLACE OF ANGELS IN THE THEOLOGY OF
MARTIN LUTHER

Christopher J. Samuel

Marquette University, 2014

This dissertation examines a virtually untouched aspect of Martin Luther’s
theology: his angelology. Specifically, it argues four main points: that Luther does, over
his corpus, present an angelology; that his angelology is indebted to and in conversation
with the prior theological tradition; that his concern with the angels is evident throughout
his career; and that his major angelological concerns are pastoral in nature. Furthermore,
it presents Luther’s answers to four basic angelological questions: 1) what are the
angels?; 2) what is the angels’ role in Creation?; 3) what is the nature of their relationship
with humanity?; and 4) what is the nature of their relationship with the church?
The first step taken is to present a brief survey of Luther’s angelological context by
examining the works of Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom, Pseudo-Dionysius, Peter
Lombard, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, and Gabriel Biel, and to
offer evidence of their influence on Luther on this specific topic. Their answers to these
same angelological questions are then discussed.
Luther’s answers to these questions are then examined, organized according to
different periods in his life: Pre-1526, 1526-1535, and 1536-1545. One major text from
each period is singled out for closer examination: his Lectures on Hebrews, Lectures on
Zechariah, and Lectures on Genesis. In doing so, this dissertation shows that Luther’s
angelology can provide major insight into other areas of his overall theology, such as his
ontology, cosmology, eschatology, and ecclesiology, but also that his angelology reveals
his immersion in the theology of both the early and medieval churches – and is therefore
a subject worthy of further exploration.
“… how hard it is for us to believe, though the good news was preached and sung for us
by angels, who are heavenly theologians and have rejoiced in our behalf! Their song is
the most glorious. It contains the whole Christian faith. For the gloria in excelsis is
supreme worship. They wish us such worship and they bring it to us in Christ.
Ever since the fall of Adam the world knows neither God nor his creation. It lives
altogether outside of the glory of God. … For this reason the angels here [in the
Christmas story] recall fallen men to faith and love, that is, to glory towards God and
peace on earth.”1

1 LW 54.327.#4201
i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Christopher J. Samuel

For me, writing a dissertation has been a paradoxical task. On the one hand, writing
and researching day after day, week after week, constantly thinking, constantly worrying
over every argument and every word or what is left to be done can only be done by the
author of the work. On the other hand – the more accurate hand – the dissertation writing
process has made me increasingly aware of just how many people have shared this
journey with me, and thankful for their unconditional presence and support of me and my
task.
And so, I would first like to thank my friends and colleagues in the Theology
department at Marquette University for the opportunity to talk, commiserate, vent, and
laugh with each of them.
Next, I would like to thank my family for their continuing encouragement and love,
not only during my time at Marquette, but throughout my academic career.
I must also thank my board members for their charity in agreeing to read and
comment on my dissertation, and for their guidance at its inception. I would especially
like to thank my advisor, Mickey L. Mattox, who has been a source of calm, unwavering
support and encouragement, and has been invaluable to me as an instructor and mentor.
Lastly, I must thank my wife Laura. I truly and literally could not have done this
without her unfailing, unconditional, unending love and support. Luther himself preached
that, “… over and above all [other loves] is married love, that is, a bride’s love, which
glows like a fire and desires nothing but the husband. She says, ‘It is you I want, not what
ii
is yours: I want neither your silver nor your gold; I want neither. I want only you. I want
you in your entirety, or not at all.’ All other kinds of love seeks something other than the
loved on: this kind wants only to have the beloved’s own self completely.”1 She has
shown me this kind of love every minute of our life together, and I can think of no other
blessing I cherish more. Nor can I think of any other thing that has so comforted me and
completed me as she does. She is my angel, in every way that matters.

1 LW 44.9.
iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... I
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................ III
INTRODUCTION: “DOES LUTHER HAVE AN ANGELOLOGY?” .................................. 1
INT.1. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................4
Int.1.1. Michael Plathow (1994) .............................................................................4
Int.1.2. Jürgen Beyer (1996) ...................................................................................6
Int.1.3. Bengt R. Hoffman (1998) ............................................................................7
Int.1.4. Bruce Gordon (2000) .................................................................................9
Int.1.5. Scott Hendrix (2005) ................................................................................11
Int.1.6. Philip M. Soergel (2006) ..........................................................................13
Int.1.7. Denis Janz (2010) .....................................................................................15
INT.2. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................17
INT.3. THE POINT OF THIS EXERCISE .................................................................................22
CHAPTER I: ANGELS IN THE EARLY AND MEDIEVAL CHURCH ............................. 25
I.1. WHY THESE THEOLOGIANS? ........................................................................................25
I.1.1. Augustine (354-430 CE) ..............................................................................26
I.1.2. Chrysostom (347-407 CE) ...........................................................................28
I.1.3. Pseudo-Dionysius (5th/6th Century CE) .......................................................30
I.1.4. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153 CE) ........................................................33
I.1.5. Peter Lombard (1096-1165 CE) ..................................................................35
I.1.6. Bonaventure (1221-1274 CE) ......................................................................36
iv
I.1.7. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 CE) ...............................................................37
I.1.8. Gabriel Biel (1420/25-1495 CE) .................................................................40
I.2. WHAT ARE THE ANGELS? ............................................................................................41
I.2.1. Augustine .....................................................................................................41
I.2.2. Chrysostom ..................................................................................................46
I.2.3. Pseudo-Dionysius ........................................................................................48
I.2.4. Bernard of Clairvaux ...................................................................................50
I.2.5. Peter Lombard .............................................................................................52
I.2.6. Bonaventure .................................................................................................54
I.2.7. Thomas Aquinas ..........................................................................................61
I.2.8. Gabriel Biel .................................................................................................66
I.3. WHAT IS THEIR ROLE IN CREATION? ...........................................................................68
I.3.1. Augustine .....................................................................................................68
I.3.2. Chrysostom ..................................................................................................70
I.3.3. Pseudo-Dionysius ........................................................................................72
I.3.4. Bernard of Clairvaux ...................................................................................76
I.3.5. Peter Lombard .............................................................................................77
I.3.6. Bonaventure .................................................................................................79
I.3.7. Thomas Aquinas ..........................................................................................82
I.3.8. Gabriel Biel .................................................................................................83
I.4. WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANITY? ......................................................85
I.4.1. Augustine .....................................................................................................85
I.4.2. Chrysostom ..................................................................................................88
I.4.3. Pseudo-Dionysius ........................................................................................92
I.4.4. Bernard of Clairvaux ...................................................................................93
I.4.5. Peter Lombard .............................................................................................95
v
I.4.6. Bonaventure .................................................................................................96
I.4.7. Thomas Aquinas ........................................................................................100
I.4.8. Gabriel Biel ...............................................................................................103
I.5. WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH? .................................................105
I.5.1. Augustine ...................................................................................................105
I.5.2. Chrysostom ................................................................................................108
I.5.3. Pseudo-Dionysius ......................................................................................112
I.5.4. Bernard of Clairvaux .................................................................................113
I.5.5. Peter Lombard ...........................................................................................116
I.5.6. Bonaventure ...............................................................................................117
I.5.7. Thomas Aquinas ........................................................................................120
I.5.8. Gabriel Biel ...............................................................................................124
I.6. TO CLOSE ...................................................................................................................126
CHAPTER II: DAS WESEN: THE NATURE OF THE ANGELS ....................................... 129
II.1. PRE-1526 ..................................................................................................................130
II.1.1. Angelic Characteristics ............................................................................131
II.1.2. Knowledge, Speech, and Power ...............................................................133
II.1.3. Ontological Concerns ..............................................................................135
II.1.4. Lectures on Hebrews ................................................................................137
II.2. 1526-1535 .................................................................................................................141
II.2.1. Angelic Characteristics ............................................................................142
II.2.2. Knowledge, Speech, and Power ...............................................................144
II.2.3. Lectures on Zechariah ..............................................................................146
II.3. 1536-1545 .................................................................................................................147
II.3.1. Angelic Characteristics ............................................................................148
vi
II.3.2. Knowledge, Speech, and Power ...............................................................151
II.3.3. Lectures on Genesis .................................................................................152
II.4. A CONCLUSION .........................................................................................................165
CHAPTER III: DIE AUFGABE: THE ROLE OF ANGELS IN CREATION .................... 168
III.1. PRE-1526 .................................................................................................................168
III.1.1. Messengers and Preachers .....................................................................169
III.1.2. Preservers ...............................................................................................171
III.1.3. Protectors ................................................................................................172
III.1.4. Lectures on Hebrews ..............................................................................173
III.2. 1526-1535 ...............................................................................................................174
III.2.1. Messengers and Preachers .....................................................................174
III.2.2. Preservers ...............................................................................................175
III.2.3. Protectors ................................................................................................179
III.2.4. Lectures on Zechariah ............................................................................183
III.3. 1536-1545 ...............................................................................................................190
III.3.1 Preservers ................................................................................................191
III.3.2. Protectors ................................................................................................192
III.3.3. Lectures on Genesis ................................................................................193
III.3.3.1. Messengers and Preachers ................................................................................ 193
III.3.3.2. Preservers ......................................................................................................... 198
III.3.3.3. Protectors .......................................................................................................... 202
III.4. A CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................216
CHAPTER IV: DIE BINDUNG: THE ANGELS’ RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUMANITY
AND THE CHURCH ................................................................................................................. 219
IV.1. THE ANGELS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH HUMANITY .....................................................220