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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 1

Doctors and Preachers

I, Dr. John Bugenhagen, Pomeranus, subscribe the Articles of the Augsburg Confession, the Apology, and the Article presented to the princes at Smalcald concerning the Papacy.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 2

Doctors and Preachers

I also, Dr. Urban Rhegius, Superintendent of the churches in the Duchy of Lueneburg, subscribe.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 32

Doctors and Preachers

Ambrose Blaurer. I have read, and again and again reread, the Confession and Apology presented at Augsburg by the Most Illustrious Prince, the Elector of Saxony, and by the other princes and estates of the Roman Empire, to his Imperial Majesty. I have also read the Formula of Concord concerning the Sacrament, made at W

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 60

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

[In our Confession and the Apology we have in general recounted what we have had to say concerning ecclesiastical power. For] The Gospel assigns to those who preside over churches the command to teach the Gospel to remit sins, to administer the Sacraments and besides jurisdiction, namely, the command to excommunicate t

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 61

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

And by the confession of all, even of the adversaries, it is clear that this power by divine right is common to all who preside over churches, whether they are called pastors, or elders, or bishops.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 62

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

And accordingly Jerome openly teaches in the apostolic letters that all who preside over churches are both bishops and elders, and cites from Titus 1:5f : For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest ordain elders in every city [and afterwards calls these persons bishops]. Then he adds: A bishop must be the

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 63

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Jerome, therefore, teaches that it is by human authority that the grades of bishop and elder or pastor are distinct. And the subject itself declares this, because the power [the office and command] is the same, as he has said above.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 64

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

But one matter afterwards made a distinction between bishops and pastors namely, ordination, because it was [so] arranged that one bishop should ordain ministers in a number of churches.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 65

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

But since by divine authority the grades of bishop and pastor are not diverse, it is manifest that ordination administered by a pastor in his own church is valid by divine law [if a pastor in his own church ordains certain suitable persons to the ministry, such ordination is, according to divine law, undoubtedly effect

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 66

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Therefore, when the regular bishops become enemies of the Church, or are unwilling to administer ordination, the churches retain their own right. [Because the regular bishops persecute the Gospel and refuse to ordain suitable persons, every church has in this case full authority to ordain its own ministers.]

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 67

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

For wherever the Church is, there is the authority [command] to administer the Gospel. Therefore it is necessary for the Church to retain the authority to call, elect, and ordain ministers. And this authority is a gift which in reality is given to the Church, which no human power can wrest from the Church, as Paul also

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 68

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Here belong the statements of Christ which testify that the keys have been given to the Church, and not merely to certain persons, Matt. 18:20: Where two or three are gathered together in My name, etc.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 69

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Lastly, the statement of Peter also confirms this, 1 Pet. 2:9: Ye are a royal priesthood. These words pertain to the true Church, which certainly has the right to elect and ordain ministers since it alone has the priesthood.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 70

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

And this also a most common custom of the Church testifies. For formerly the people elected pastors and bishops. Then came a bishop, either of that church or a neighboring one, who confirmed tho one elected by the laying on of hands; and ordination was nothing else than such a ratification.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 71

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Afterwards new ceremonies were added, many of which Dionysius describes. But he is a recent and fictitious author, whoever he may be [this book of Dionysius is a new fiction under a false title], just as the writings of Clement also are spurious [have a false title and have been manufactured by a wicked scoundrel long

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 72

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

From all these things it is clear that the Church retains the right to elect and ordain ministers. And the wickedness and tyranny of bishops afford cause for schism and discord [therefore, if the bishops either are heretics, or will not ordain suitable persons, the churches are in duty bound before God, according to di

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 73

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

We have spoken of ordination, which alone, as Jerome says, distinguished bishops from other elders. Therefore there is need of no discussion concerning the other duties of bishops. Nor is it indeed necessary to speak of confirmation, nor of the consecration of bells [nor other tomfoolery of this kind], which are almost

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 74

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

It is certain that the common jurisdiction of excommunicating those guilty of manifest crimes belongs to all pastors. This they have tyrannically transferred to themselves alone, and have applied it to the acquisition of gain. For it is certain that the officials, as they are called employed a license not to be tolerat

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 75

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

And in what kind of affairs did they abuse this power? Indeed, not in punishing true offenses, but in regard to the violation of fasts or festivals, or like trifles! Only, they sometimes punished adulteries; and in this matter they often vexed [abused and defamed] innocent and honorable men. Besides, since this is a mo

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 76

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Since, therefore, bishops have tyrannically transferred this jurisdiction to themselves alone, and have basely abused it, there is no need, because of this jurisdiction, to obey bishops. But since there are just reasons why we do not obey, it is right also to restore this jurisdiction to godly pastors [to whom, by Chri

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 77

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

There remains the jurisdiction in those cases which, according to canonical law, pertain to the ecclesiastical court, as they call it, and especially in cases of matrimony. This, too, the bishops have only by human right, and that, not a very old one, as appears from the Codex and Novellae of Justinian that decisions c

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 78

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

And, indeed, since they have framed certain unjust laws concerning marriages, and observe them in their courts, there is need also for this reason to establish other courts. For the traditions concerning spiritual relationship [the prohibition of marriage between sponsors] are unjust. Unjust also is the tradition which

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 79

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Since, therefore, the bishops, who are devoted to the Pope, defend godless doctrine and godless services, and do not ordain godly teachers, yea, aid the cruelty of the Pope, and, besides, have wrested the jurisdiction from pastors, and exercise it only tyrannically [for their own profit]; and lastly, since in matrimoni

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 80

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

But they themselves should remember that riches [estates and revenues] have been given to bishops as alms for the administration and advantage of the churches [that they may serve the Church, and perform their office the more efficiently], as the rule says: The benefice is given because of the office. Therefore they ca

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 81

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

For so great is the variety and extent of matrimonial controversies that there is need of a special tribunal for these, and for establishing this, the endowments of the Church are needed.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 82

Of the Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops

Peter predicted, 2 Pet. 2:13, that there would be godless bishops, who would abuse the alms of the Church for luxury and neglect the ministry. Therefore [since the Holy Spirit in that connection utters dire threats] let those who defraud the Church know that they will pay God the penalty for this crime.

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 5

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

Now, in order that our proof [reason and opinion] may be [better] understood, we shall first define what they call being above all [what it means that he boasts of being supreme] by divine right. For they mean that he is universal [that the Pope is the general bishop over the entire Christian Church], or, as they say,

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 6

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

Besides this, he arrogates to himself the authority to make [all kinds of] laws concerning acts of worship, concerning changing the Sacraments [and] concerning doctrine, and wishes his articles, his decrees, his laws [his statutes and ordinances] to be considered equal to the divine laws [to other articles of the Chris

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 8

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

I. Luke 22:25. Christ expressly prohibits lordship among the apostles [that no apostle should have any supremacy over the rest]. For this was the very question, namely, that when Christ spake of His passion, they were disputing who should be at the head, and as it were the vicar of the absent Christ. There Christ repro

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 9

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

III. John 20:21. Christ sends forth His disciples on an equality, without any distinction [so that no one of them was to have more or less power than any other], when He says: As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. [These words are clear and plain:] He says that He sends them individually in the same manner as

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 10

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

IV. Gal. 2:7f St. Paul manifestly affirms that he was neither ordained nor confirmed [and endorsed] by Peter, nor does he acknowledge Peter to be one from whom confirmation should be sought. And he expressly contends concerning this point that his call does not depend upon the authority of Peter. But he ought to have a

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 11

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

V. In 1 Cor. 3:6, Paul makes ministers equal, and teaches that the Church is above the ministers. Hence superiority or lordship over the Church or the rest of the ministers is not ascribed to Peter [in preference to other apostles]. For he says thus: All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, i.e., let

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 12

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

VI. The Council of Nice resolved that the bishop of Alexandria should administer the churches in the East, and the Roman bishop the suburban, i.e., those which were in the Roman provinces in the West. From this start by a human law, i.e. the resolution of the Council, the authority of the Roman bishop first arose. If t

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 14

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

The same was observed [for a long time, not only in the East, but] also in the West and in the Latin churches, as Cyprian and Augustine testify. For Cyprian says in his fourth letter to Cornelius: Accordingly, as regards the divine observance and apostolic practice, you must diligently keep and practice what is also ob

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 15

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

Cyprian calls this custom a divine tradition and an apostolic observance, and affirms that it is observed in almost all the provinces. Since, therefore, neither ordination nor confirmation was sought from a bishop of Rome in the greater part of the world in the Latin and Greek churches, it is sufficiently apparent that

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 16

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

Such superiority is impossible. For it is impossible for one bishop to be the overseer of the churches of the whole world, or for churches situated in the most distant lands to seek ordination [for all their ministers] from one. For it is manifest that the kingdom of Christ is scattered throughout the whole world; and

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 21

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

Also, when for a long time there had been contests concerning the primacy between the bishops of Rome and Constantinople, the Emperor Phocas finally determined that the primacy should be assigned to the bishop of Rome. But if the ancient Church had acknowledged the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, this contention could no

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 22

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

But they cite against us certain passages, namely, Matt. 16:18f : Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; also: I will give unto thee the keys; also John 21:15: Feed My sheep, and some others. But since this entire controversy has been fully and accurately treated elsewhere in the books of our theolo

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 23

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

In all these passages Peter is the representative of the entire assembly of apostles [and does not speak for himself alone, but for all the apostles], as appears from the text itself. For Christ asks not Peter alone, but says: Whom do ye say that I am? And what is here said [to Peter alone] in the singular number: I wi

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 24

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

In addition to this, it is necessary to acknowledge that the keys belong not to the person of one particular man, but to the Church, as many most clear and firm arguments testify. For Christ, speaking concerning the keys adds, Matt. 18:19: If two or three of you shall agree on earth, etc. Therefore he grants the keys p

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Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope | paragraph 25

Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537

However, as to the declaration: Upon this rock I will build My Church, certainly the Church has not been built upon the authority of man, but upon the ministry of the confession which Peter made, in which he proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He accordingly addresses him as a minister: Upon this rock,

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