Osiandrian controversy

Lutheran debate over imputed righteousness

The Osiandrian controversy was a controversy amongst the Lutherans, originated in around 1550 by Andreas Osiander, a German theologian.^[1]^[2] He asserted that it was only through the righteousness of Christ with respect to the divine nature (entirely excluding the righteousness of Christ with respect to the human nature) that mankind could obtain justification, and that men became partakers of Christ's divine righteousness through faith.^[2] Osiander thought the prevailing current in his area gave an overemphasis on forensic justification--he saw Christ as a physician who heals instead of as a judge who declares one righteous. He taught that God does not declare the sinner just, but makes him just. Osiander held that justification does not impute Christ's obedience and righteousness to the sinner, but instead the indwelling of Christ causes justification.^[3]

Criticism and debate

Osiandrianism was opposed by Nicolaus von Amsdorf, Martin Chemnitz, Matthias Flacius, Philip Melanchthon, and Joachim Mörlin.^[3] They criticized Osiander for breaking the "close connection between alien and proper righteousness and the idea that both were rooted in the cross of Christ"^[4] Eventually the strictly anti-Osiandrian view prevailed.^[4] Part three of the Epitome of the Formula of Concord rejected Osiandiranism by stating that "Christ is our Righteousness neither according to the divine nature alone nor according to the human nature alone, but that it is the entire Christ according to both natures, in His obedience alone, which as God and man He rendered to the Father even unto death, and thereby merited for us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, as it is written: As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous," (Romans 5:19)^[5]

This doctrine was opposed principally by Francesco Stancaro, who ran to the opposite extreme of excluding entirely Christ's divine nature from all concern in the redemption procured for sinners.^[2] This controversy led to others,^{[clarification needed]} which were highly detrimental to the interests of the Lutheran church.

Philip Melanchthon offered an early opinion on the Osiandrian controversy. Although his letter to Osiander was generally positive, he criticized Osiander, especially for "not including a discussion of Christ's meritorious death when mentioning Christ's essential righteousness."^[6] On 27 May 1551, Joachim Mörlin publicly attacked Osiander from the pulpit, which Osiander defended at the pulpit four days later.^[6] Johannes Brenz was also outspoken on the controversy and urged Osiander to "avoid causing division among the Evangelicals at this dangerous time".^[6] The controversy continued until around 1566 but continued to be discussed for centuries — notably by Eduard Böhl in the late 19th century, who declared it to have had an impact upon reformed theology.^[7] In 1555 there were outbreaks of violence in Prussia over the Osiandrian controversy.^[8]

References

^ Fahlbusch, Erwin (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 334. ISBN 978-90-04-11695-5. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c Eden, Robert (1845). The Churchman's Theological Dictionary. John W. Parker. p. 263. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^ ^a ^b Osiandrian Controversy in the Christian Cyclopedia
^ ^a ^b R. A. Kelly (1995). "Righteousness". In Geoffrey W. Bromiley (ed.). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-8028-3784-4. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
^ Epitome of the Formula of Concord, part three, paragraph 3
^ ^a ^b ^c Wengert, Timothy J. (4 June 2012). Defending Faith: Lutheran Responses to Andreas Osiander's Doctrine of Justification, 1551-1559. Mohr Siebeck. p. 195. ISBN 978-3-16-151798-3. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^ Forster, Thomas R. V. (1 June 2009). Eduard Böhl's (1836-1903) Concept for a Re-emergence of Reformation Thought. Peter Lang. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-1-4331-0354-4. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^ Riddle, Joseph Esmond (1840). Ecclesiastical chronology; or, Annals of the Christian church, from its foundation. Longman, Orme, Brown, Green and Longmans. p. 362. Retrieved 10 September 2012.

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Robert Eden's The Churchman's Theological Dictionary (1845)

Early Lutheran controversies

Date	Controversy	Resolution ^a)	Issues / people / publications involved
1527–56	Antinomian	V VI	Johannes Agricola Andreas Poach Anton Otto Matthias Flacius Philippists
1533–53	Descent into Hell	IX	Descent into Hell Johannes Aepinus
1548–55	Adiaphoristic	X	Philip Melanchthon Matthias Flacius Philippists Gnesio-Lutherans
1549–66	Osiandrian	III	Andreas Osiander Johann Funck Francesco Stancaro Philip Melanchthon Matthias Flacius Andreas Musculus Victorinus Strigel
1551–62	Majoristic	VI	Georg Major Justus Menius Nicolaus von Amsdorf Nicolaus Gallus Philippists Gnesio-Lutherans
1555–60	Synergistic	II	Philip Melanchthon Johann Pfeffinger Victorinus Strigel Matthias Flacius Philippists Gnesio-Lutherans On the Bondage of the Will
1560–75	Flacian	I	Matthias Flacius Simon Musaeus Victorinus Strigel
1560–75	Crypto-Calvinist and Saligerian	VII	Philip Melanchthon Augsburg Confession Variata Albert Hardenberg Joachim Westphal Martin Chemnitz Maximilian Mörlin Johannes Saliger Philippists Sacramentarians Ubiquitarians Gnesio-Lutherans The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ
1561–63	Predestination	XI	Predestination Johann Marbach Girolamo Zanchi
1640-86	Syncretistic		Georg Calixtus