Argula von Grumbach

by Peter Matheson

In 1523, in one of the most daring and remarkable events in the history of the Reformation, a woman challenged the Catholic establishment to a public debate. The issue was the persecution of a young Lutheran student in Ingolstadt. Argula von Grumbach's writings on this and many other topics were widely circulated: her first publication alone went through sixteen editions. She addressed the Catholic theologians of Ingolstadt, the Dukes of Bavaria, and the Councils of Ingolstadt and Regensburg. She also met with and conducted an extensive correspondence with Luther, Osiander and many of the leading reformers. Professor Peter Matheson here provides translations of all her published works together with introductions. He gives a full biographical account of von Grumbach, analyses her use of Scripture and discusses her role as a woman of the Reformation. The rediscovery of Protestanism's first female theologian and author affords a wealth of new insight into the history of the Reformation; the role of women in Church, state and society; and a woman's use of Scripture, which in many ways anticipates the flowering of feminist theology today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 bk 92 In reading about the Reformation great names are mentioned and repeated frequently - to the point that we forget that the Reformation movement was more than the great speakers. It spread among the education noble classes who read and wrote letters to each other concurrently with it spread via preachers who spoke to those in the cities and small towns to all who attended the churches or small groups. This book is the story of one woman, of the nobility, who with her one brother read her way into the reform movement - reading her Bible, asking questions, seeking out like minded pastors with whom she could further study. It was when a local university (one founded by her ancestor) attacked and tried an 18 year old for his study of the reform ideas that she was driven to speak out. Unbeknowst to her husband, she wrote a letter decrying the university for putting a 'child' on trial and convicting him to life in a monastery without debating the ideas and she offered herself to that debate. She was never called upon - but her letter was widely circulated and then published (16 editions). Argula began a correspondence with Luther and he dedicated one of his books to her. Her life was not made easy by the fame, her husband lost his job as an administrator and lost face, several of her children did not follow her path, but she held true to the reform movement and ideas throughout her life. Amazing woman.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fascinating look at a woman who spoke her mind on matters of faith during the Reformation. An eye-opener for those who think women had no place in the Reformation, because Argula made one whether people wanted her to or not!

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read pp. 1-95 on a pdf for Dr. Whitford's seminar on Luther at Baylor (Spring 2014).