The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?

Anthony N. S. Lane

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

Uses primary sources in a way that has not been done before
Focuses on the text and its translation
The most thorough study of this topic to date

The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?

Anthony N. S. Lane

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

Description

The question of the justification of sinners is one of the most complex regions of Christian theology. The Regensburg article on justification proposed a solution that it was hoped would be acceptable to both sides, Protestant and Catholic. In 1541 at the Regensburg Colloquy, three leading Protestant theologians (Melanchthon, Bucer, and Pistorius) and three leading Catholic theologians (Eck, Gropper, and Pflug) debated with the aim of producing a commonly agreed statement of belief. The colloquy as a whole eventually failed, but it began with a statement on justification by faith agreed by all the parties, Article 5", leading to an initial burst of optimism. There were two contrasting reactions to Article 5. Some, like Calvin, maintained that it contained the substance of true doctrine; others, like Luther, called it an inconsistent patchwork. These two rival assessments have persisted over the centuries.
The aim of this book is to decide between them. It does so by viewing the article in the light of the publications of the key participants and observers, as well as by comparing it with the Tridentine Catholic Decree on Justification. Anthony Lane puts the Regensburg article under the microscope, offering both a wide-ranging study of the article's history and a line-by-line analysis of its content, presenting the original Latin text together with an English translation and running commentary.

The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?

Anthony N. S. Lane

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
1. The Regensburg Colloquy
2. Reactions to Article 5
3. After Regensburg
4. Double Righteousness and Double Justification
5. Text and Commentary
6. Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?
Conclusion: Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?
Appendix: The Drafts of Article 5
Glossary of Latin Terms
Bibliography

The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?

Anthony N. S. Lane

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

Author Information

Anthony N. S. Lane, Professor of Historical Theology, London School of Theology

Dr. Tony Lane is Professor of Historical Theology at the London School of Theology, where he has been on the faculty since 1973. He has published three books on John Calvin and three editions of works of Calvin. He has also published 17 articles and book chapters on Calvin. He has also written on Bernard of Clairvaux and Catholic-Protestant dialogue on justification by faith.

The Regensburg Article 5 on Justification

Inconsistent Patchwork or Substance of True Doctrine?

Anthony N. S. Lane

Oxford Studies in Historical Theology

Reviews and Awards

"Easily the most reliable, comprehensive and scholarly account of the Colloquy of Regensburg (1541) and its important article on justification. We are unlikely to see a better assessment of this important episode for some considerable time." - Alister E. McGrath, Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford

"Lane brings discussions of the Regensburg doctrine of justification to a new level through this meticulous examination of the background, context, content, and fate of this settlement. His careful assessment of the writings of the major figures on both sides of the ecclesiastical divide permits readers to apprehend clearly the fundamental concerns and the willingness to experiment with doctrinal expressions exhibited by those involved in the face-to-face meetings in Regensburg." - Robert Kolb, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary

"The movement toward concord on the doctrine of justification is not a new movement. But it is not easy: it requires persistence and attention to nuances. If the participants at the 1541 Regensburg Colloquy, along with those who reacted against it had read Article Five as carefully as did Professor Lane, the church today might have had a very different look." - Gordon A. Jensen, author of The Wittenberg Concord: Creating Space for Dialogue