Nicolaus von Amsdorff. Ausgewählte Schriften der Jarhe 1550 bis 1562 aus der ehemaligen Eisenacher Ministerialbibliothek ed. by Hagen Jäger (review)

Nikolaus von Amsdorf (1483–1565) played a key role in both the early years of the Wittenberg Reformation and in the period following Luther's death and the Smalcald War, in which the specific definition of Wittenberg theology and practice was being sorted out by his followers. No original thinker but rather one who attempted to faithfully echo Luther, Amsdorf has commanded relatively little scholarly attention. His nearly one hundred printed works, most brief, have merited no scholarly edition, and the caches of his manuscript have earned only minimal exploration. Therefore, this volume provides a welcome addition to our ability to assess the thought of this "epigone," whose influence exceeded his theological contributions to the Lutheran legacy. While it is true that those items that remain in manuscript form—and the editor has wisely chosen to reproduce only such pieces of the collection of Amsdorf papers in the former Ministerialbibliothek in Eisenach—are of limited value in terms of assessing their impact, the thoughts and formulations of these memoranda and opinions reveal aspects of Amsdorf's thinking that will expand our understanding of the tense times in which they originated, amidst the controversies that divided the Wittenberg circle.

The second phase of Amsdorf's life revolved around his participation in the adiaphoristic, Majoristic, and synergistic controversies. The twelve items reproduced here cover three reactions of Amsdorf to the Leipzig Proposal or Interim; five on the proposition of Georg Major, "good works are necessary for salvation;" three on the synergistic controversy; and one that groups the Philippist opponents together and relates to all three topics of dispute. These documents repeat ideas found in Amsdorf's published works from this period, but these parallel expressions help illuminate what is available in print. It would have been helpful to have some comment on the role genre played in the formulation of Amsdorf's thought, for this volume contains a dialogue between "adiaphorist" and "Lutheraner," a polemical commentary on Psalm 26, a critique of Justus Menius' "propositions" on good works in the form of academic theses, and several analyses of or responses to the writings of opponents.

The volume is less than satisfying in other ways as well. For example, it does not present a scholarly edition of these manuscripts according to current standards but instead reproduces only the modified text of the last reworking of a given text. Footnotes provide neither a critical comparison with other versions nor details beyond identification of Bible verses cited, some of the individuals mentioned, occasional details on circumstances to which the author was referring, and some definitions of obscure words. Where earlier drafts are present, alterations are not noted, and thus readers do not get to see the development of Amsdorf's thought. To trace it still requires a trip to the archives. Introductions to each document fail to note that their context relates to the material presented in the series Controversia et Confessio, edited by Irene Dingel (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008–); these volumes offer readers both excellent introductions to the controversies here addressed and texts of some of the printed works that did make an impact, including those by Amsdorf. Use of the volumes in the series that have already appeared could have enriched the reader's use of Jäger's work with helpful, more analytic information. So could have a more thorough use of the secondary literature mentioned in the bibliography, as well as some works not listed. Extant research could have strengthened the analysis and depiction of the historical context of these documents. Omissions of mention of vital elements of context are surprising; as, for example, in introducing the five documents regarding the Majoristic controversy, ignored is the fact that Amsdorf as superintendent of Magdeburg's churches and Major as his school rector...