The interpretation of the Apostles’ Creed by Martin Luther has been the subject of scholarly debate, with some suggesting that his understanding diverged from traditional Church teachings. Jaroslav Pelikan (1984) argues that Luther’s emphasis on the personal application of the Creed might overshadow its communal interpretation, while Heiko Oberman (1989) claims that Luther’s focus on individual faith and the “priesthood of all believers” undermines the Church’s role as the authoritative interpreter of the Creed. Alister E. McGrath (1991) contends that Luther’s emphasis on “justification by faith alone” risks narrowing the broader and more comprehensive meaning of the Creed.
These critiques, while reasonable, often overlook the broader theological and historical context of Luther’s interpretation. To avoid potential misinterpretation, it is crucial to view Luther’s interpretation not as an isolated perspective, but as part of his broader theological development. Therefore, this study will examine Luther’s “Large and Small Catechisms” (1529), where he presents his interpretation of the Apostles’ Creed, along with his “Commentary on the Apostles’ Creed” (1522), “A Sermon on the Apostles’ Creed” (1523), and “Ten Sermons on the Catechisms” (1528) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of his views. Written during the early Reformation, Luther’s Catechisms reflect his emerging Reformation principles of Sola Scriptura and the “priesthood of all believers,” which reshaped the Church’s role in spiritual authority and made the Creed more accessible to the common people. Additionally, Luther’s approach to the Creed in his Catechisms was deeply pastoral. He viewed the Creed (prescription), along with the Ten Commandments (diagnosis) and the Lord’s Prayer (seeking the prescription), as a triadic framework for spiritual healing. Thus, for Luther, the Creed was not a mere formal declaration, but a comprehensive tool for Christian instruction and spiritual care.
In this context, this study counters the critiques by arguing: 1) Luther’s emphasis on personal application was not a subjective or arbitrary interpretation of the Creed but a return to Sola Scriptura, allowing each believer to engage directly with the Creed; 2) his doctrine of the “priesthood of all believers” did not negate the Church’s authority but redefined it, emphasizing the Church as the community of believers united in Christ; 3) Luther’s focus on justification by faith alone was not an oversimplification of the Creed but a way to highlight the Creed’s most foundational and transformative truth. From these points, this study aims to demonstrate that Luther’s interpretation of the Creed, while aligned with traditional Christian faith, synthesizes orthodoxy with personal spirituality, bridging traditional beliefs with Reformation principles. This project is anticipated to provide comprehensive insights into Luther’s teachings on the Creed and its theological significance, contributing to ongoing dialogue on evangelical interpretations of the Creed and its pastoral and pedagogical use.