Another Quincentennial: The 1519 Leipzig Debate

The 95 Theses¹ swiftly brought Martin Luther (1483–1546) to the attention of the contemporary ecclesiastical and political leadership and of the general public. In the Theses Luther attacked the sale of indulgences and raised questions regarding the whole penitential system of the church. The Theses thus not only challenged the church's theology and piety, but they also quickly affected one of its major sources of income. The church's response to the dissemination of the Theses was, therefore, a quick one. The Dominicans initially led that response, but other defenders of the church also raised their voices in opposition to Luther. One of the most capable and persistent Roman apologists was Johannes Eck (1486–1543).

Eck and Luther carried on a friendly correspondence in 1517, most likely because both had been influenced by Humanism and sought to address abuses within the church and to promote reform. However, Eck was not inclined to challenge the authority of the papacy and of the church in general and decided to voice his opposition to the 95 Theses by preparing a written critique in 1518, which he titled Obelisks. While he initially intended the document to circulate privately, it was leaked and printed. The work reached Wittenberg in March of 1518. Luther was surprised and disappointed that his collegial correspondent had chosen to attack him, and he responded with his Asterisks.² Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt (1486–1541), Luther's colleague in Wittenberg, believed that the Obelisks were an attack on his theology and vision of reform as well as Luther's, and he was determined to defend himself, the whole Wittenberg faculty, and Luther against Eck's critique. He, therefore, published 370 and ultimately 405 Theses³ in defense of the Wittenbergers. Eck wrote to Karlstadt expressing surprise that the latter had attacked him,⁴ and Karlstadt responded by offering his friendship, if Eck decided to be a lover of truth.⁵ Rather than meeting Karlstadt's demand, Eck responded with his Defense,⁶ which inspired Karlstadt to produce his own Defense⁷ in September of 1518. Karlstadt also noted that he was willing to engage Eck in a public debate if his expenses were refunded, he was given a safe conduct, and notaries were appointed to record the debate.⁸

Luther met Eck personally in Augsburg in October 1518. Luther had been summoned to Augsburg in order to meet with the papal legate, Thomas Cardinal Cajetan (1469–1534), but Eck also happened to be in the city at the same time.⁹ During their chance meeting, Luther and Eck discussed the anticipated debate between Eck and Karlstadt and potential places where it might be held, namely, Erfurt or Leipzig. Luther reported this conversation to Karlstadt, and, in a letter to Eck, Karlstadt informed the Ingolstadt professor that he should choose the site.¹⁰ Leipzig was chosen, no doubt because Eck was aware that the University and Duke George of Saxony (1471–1539) were supportive of his defense of the church, its theology, and its practices. The next preparatory step for the debate was to secure a commitment from the University and from the Duke to host the debate. This goal was accomplished after negotiations between the Duke and the theological faculty of Leipzig; Duke George and the university therefore issued an invitation to Eck and Karlstadt. It was also decided that June 27, 1519, would be the starting date and that the Universities of Erfurt and Paris would be asked to judge the results of the debate.

Eck sought to clarify the agenda for the debate by publishing twelve theses in December 1518 that dealt with indulgences, purgatory, and penance but also introduced an additional topic for debate, namely, papal authority. In preparing the twelve theses, Eck was responding directly to Luther's Explanation of the Ninety-five Theses,¹¹ particularly to the Reformer's comments regarding thesis 22 in which Luther had addressed Rome's authority but without giving it much attention.¹² Eck's theses were another indicator that he was interested in debating Luther much more than Karlstadt. Luther published twelve...