Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study the researcher will reflect on the spirituality of Martin Luther as expressed in his
letters to Philip Melanchthon written from Wartburg. Through such a reflection, based on
biographical material, the researcher wishes to contribute to research that reflects on the
spirituality of historical individuals.
The first chapter will present a general introduction on how the researcher came to study
the Spirituality of Martin Luther via inter alia a study on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A short
motivation will also be given on why biographical material (such as letters), the primary
source for this study, should be seen as a suitable source for theological inquiry. The second
chapter will reflect on a few contemporary works on Luther’s spirituality as well as the works
of Scott Hendrix, Egil Grislis, Mark McIntosh and Sandra Schneiders to gain insight into the
development of spirituality as a field of study and its current focus.
The third chapter entails biographical accounts of Luther and Melanchthon with a primary
focus on their lives up until Luther's safekeeping at Wartburg as well as a reflection on their
friendship. The purpose will be to contextualize the letters and to give a better
understanding of the people involved. The fourth chapter will summarize the content of the
nine letters Luther wrote from Wartburg to Melanchthon. The summary will indicate the
matters which were discussed between the two reformers and will be reflected on in order
to find deeper insight into Luther's spirituality. Chapter five will consider matters of
importance identified in chapter four, such as the Luther's identity and spirituality and his
understanding and reference to Christ and God, while at Wartburg.
The final chapter will reflect on the content of this study and the contribution that a study
based on biographical material has to offer to spirituality as an academic discipline. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die studie wil die navorsers reflekteer oor die spiritualiteit van Martin Luther soos dit
uitgedruk is in sy briewe aan Philip Melanchthon, geskryf vanaf Wartburg. Die hoop is om
deur hierdie refleksie, gebaseer op biografiese material, ‘n bydrae te lewer tot navorsing wat
reflekteer op die spiritualiteit van historiese individue.
Die eerste hooftuk van die studie behels ‘n algemene inleiding wat sal verduidelik hoe die
navorser daartoe gekom het om ‘n studie te doen oor die spiritualiteit van Martin Luther via,
onder andere, ‘n voorafgaande studie oor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. ‘n Kort motivering sal ook
gegee word hoekom biografiese materiaal (soos briewe), die primêre bron van dié studie,
gesien kan word as ‘n gepaste bron vir teologiese ondersoek. In die tweede hoofstuk van die
studie word daar gereflekteer oor sommige kontemporêre werke aangaande Luther se
spiritualiteit asook die werke van Scott Hendrix, Egil Grislis, Mark McIntosh en Sandra
Schneiders wat insig sal gee tot die ontwikkeling van spiritualiteit as ‘n studieveld.
Die derde hoofstuk behels biografiese refleksies oor die lewens van Luther en Philip
Melanchthon, met ‘n primêre fokus op hul lewens voordat Luther na Wartburg geneem is vir
beskerming, asook ‘n refleksie op hul vriendskap. Die doel hiervan is om die briewe te
kontekstualiseer en ‘n beter begrip van die betrokke mense te kry. In die vierde hoofstuk gee
die navorser 'n opsomming van die inhoud van die nege briewe wat Luther vanaf Wartburg
aan Melanchthon geskryf het. Dit sal ‘n aanduiding gee van die sake wat tussen die
Hervormers bespreek was en waaroor verder reflekteer moet word vir dieper insigte tot
Luther se spiritualiteit. Hoofstuk vyf fokus op die sake wat in hoofstuk vier geïdentifiseer is,
asook Luther se identiteit en spiritualiteit en sy verstaan en verwysings na God en Christus.
In die finale hoofstuk van die studie word daar gereflekteer oor die inhoud van die studie en
die bydrae wat ‘n refleksie gebaseer op biografiese materiaal, te bied het aan spiritualiteit as ‘n akademiese veld.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/18030 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Bester, Gottlieb Christiaan |
| Contributors | Vosloo, R. R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 132 leaves |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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