Luther’s Essay on Secular Authority – Part 2

How far secular authority extends…

Luther’s Aim: To establish how far secular authority extends.

Luther’s Points

• The kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man each have their own law.
• Secular authority cannot mandate laws upon the soul because that is God’s domain. To do so would be giving blasphemous commands unless God specifically ordered it.
• Secular authority must admit it has no power over the soul for one can kill the body but not the soul and if one has no authority, how can one command?
• Faith is free so no one can be compelled to believe.
• Romans 13:1 is speaking of outward obedience: obedience to one whom has authority over you.
• Matt. 21:22 clarifies what Paul and Peter were saying, “Give to Caesar what is Caesars and give to God what is God’s.”
• Acts 5:29 – “We must obey God rather than Men.” Seemingly contradictory, but this is setting a limit upon secular authority.
• Princes and Kings will generally be wicked rather than just and this is to be expected. Isaiah 4
• The sword is not useful to put down heresy. That is Scripture’s duty and if it fails then the sword could not succeed. 2 Cor. 10:4
• Christians are all equal with one another. Only Christ is at the head.
• The Bishops of the church are servants rather than leaders based on the previous statement.
• Christians do not need the sword to rule them if they do everything good as Christians should.
• Non-Christians need the sword because nothing else governs their behavior.

My first observation is that I agree with Luther’s point of limited authority. Christians are only constrained to obey as far as one has authority over them. I also agree that Christians are overall, equal. Obviously, one Christian may be wiser than other, but that does not give them authority over the other person. The wiser Christian simply renders the other Christian a service by instructing him.