Martin Luther's Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development

33. The Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms

Chapter 33 THE DOCTRINE OF THE TWO KINGDOMS ON THE HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL PLACE OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO KINGDOMS OR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS In examining Luther's early formation of the distinction between the two kingdoms and the two governments,1 we referred to the fact that the distinction must be seen from die perspective of the history of tradition as well as in the wake of Luther's con­ flict with Rome. From the perspective of the history of tradition the distinction rep­ resents a reformulation of die ancient dieme of the two civitates, first developed by Augustine, diat is, die distinction between the civitas Dei and die civitas terrena, adopted in die Middle Ages and furdier developed in all sorts of variations. Behind Ludier's distinction, however, must be seen die numerous debates between emperor and pope in the Middle Ages, particularly the bitter disputes toward die end of mat period togedier widi imperial propaganda against papal claims to world rule. Not least in importance are Ludier's personal experiences as a university professor, as well as his experiences in various debates widi ecclesiastical and theological oppo­ nents. That Ludier, professor at die University of Wittenberg founded by Frederick die Wise, was in modern parlance an electoral official, dius did not lecture at a papal university, has significance not only for his dispute widi die Roman church as well as for his legal standing, but in particular also for his two-kingdoms doctrine. Naturally, we need to be cautious about overtaxing die concept on systematic-dieological 1 See above, pp. IS 1 -59. 314 THE DOCTRINE OF THE T W O KINGDOMS 315 grounds, or even on the ground of die history of its effects, as has at times occurred in die last decades. This caution applies first in diat die distinction between the two kingdoms and two governments was not actually a "doctrine" or even die outline of a political ediic applicable in principle to die evangelical cause. As such, die idea of die twokingdoms doctrine is problematic. Karl Bardi first coined the expression.2 How­ ever we judge die political ethics of Ludieran dieologians in die nineteendi and twentiedi centuries, it absolutely will not do simply to trace to Ludier die views on state and church held by Ludierans diroughout die centuries, and for good or ill make him responsible for die history of Ludieran political ediics. Such a procedure would be unhistorical and do justice neidier to Ludier in his historical situation nor to Ludieran theologians and the problems widi which diey were confronted. The two-kingdoms doctrine, widi all die significance no doubt due it, is not the heart of Ludier's dieology, however much it coheres widi it. The two-kingdoms doctrine, if we retain die concept for lack of a better one, must be seen in die importance given to it. Recent attempts to recover in Ludier die substance of an idea derived from Bardiian dieology of Christ's royal rule have a certain propriety in diat diey deny die diesis of "independent legitimacy" on die part of die kingdom of diis world.3 It must of course be said diat neidier terminologically nor in any systematic sense is diis idea at die heart of Ludier's two-kingdoms doctrine or of his political ediics. The intent behind die differentiation between die two kingdoms or two govern­ ments, bodi of which exist side by side in Ludier,4 is to distinguish human existence "before God" (coram Deo) and "before die world" (coram mundo), and to diat extent to grasp widi acuity die spiritual and temporal in dieir relation to as well as in dieir dif­ ference from each odier. It is important to realize diat not only die temporal audiorities or die state belong to die kingdom of die world, but absolutely everydiing necessary for preserving and continuing life in die world.The distinction between die two kingdoms or governments dius corresponds to die distinction between law and gospel, widiout diese pairs of concepts being identical. Bodi die distinction between law and gospel and diat between die two kingdoms or governments are calculated to help secure gospel purity and faidi.They are especially to serve die purpose diat die spiritual remain spiritual and die temporal temporal, lest die two be confused. Caution must also be taken against an inadmissible overvaluation of diis dis­ tinction, since it is not true diat Ludier first outlined his two-kingdoms doctrine in principle and...