Greg Allison, PhD: "Historical Theology:" Ch. 14--Angels, Satan and Demo...

Martin Luther on angels. “An angel is a spiritual creature, a personal being without a body, appoint for the service of the divine [and heavenly] church.” WLS, 1:23.

Luther on guardian angels protecting people from demons. “…the holy servants of God take care of eating, drinking, sleeping, and waking children! It certainly seems to be an insignificant work. But the angels do it with joy; for it is very pleasing to God, who has commanded them to do it.” WLS, 1.24.

 

Luther on spiritual battle, including making Doctors of Theology (cf. Psalm 119): “You see how David complains so often about all kinds of enemies, arrogant princes or tyrants, false spirits and factions, whom he must tolerate because h meditates, that is, because he is occupied with God’s Word. For as soon as God’s Word takes root and grows in you, the devil will harass you, and will make a real doctor of you, and by his assaults will teach you to seek and love God’s Word.” Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther’s German Writings, LW, 34: 287.

 

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.

 

For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe--

His craft and pow’r are great, And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

 

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,

Were not the right Man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He –

Lord Sabaoth His Name, From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

 

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us.

The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him –

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure:

One little word shall fell him.

 

That Word above all earthly pow’rs, No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also –

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still:

His kingdom is forever.

 

Luther on the Devil trying to ape God in his foul envy, twist God’s Word, and attack Christians. “The Devil is always the imitator of our Lord God, forever poses as divine and creates the impression that he is God….If  [the devil] cannot prevent it nor hinder God’s word by force, he opposes it with an illusion of godliness, takes the very words which God has spoken and so twists them as to peddle his lies and poison the same…Little is gained against the devil with a lengthy disputation; but a brief word and replay such as this is effect: I am a Christ, of the same flesh and blood as is my Lord, the Son of God. You settle with him [God], devil! Such a retort would make him depart.” WLS, 1:396, 403.

 

Luther on repulsing the devil. “If you can tell me that I am a a poor sinner, I, on the other hand, can tell you that Christ died for sinners and is their intercessor…You remind me of the boundless, great faithfulness and goodness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The burden of my sins and all the trouble and misery that were to oppress me eternally, he glad took upon  his shoulders and suffered the bitter death on the cross for them. To Him I direct you. You may accuse and condemn Him. Let me rest in peace; for on his shoulders, not on mine, lie all my sins and the sins of all the world.” WLS, 1: 403.

 

[1] Angels, Demons and Satan in the Modern Period

 

Schleiermacher on the subject. “It can, therefore, continue to have its place in Christian language without laying on us the duty of arriving at any conclusion with regards to its truth.” The Christian Faith, 156.

 

Schleiermacher. “Christ and the apostles might have said all these things [about angels] without having had any real conviction of the existence of such beings or any desire to communicate it.” The Christian Faith, 158.

 

Schleiermacher called the historical view childish and people have evolved beyond that. “…the question whether the angels exist or no ought to have no influence on our conduct, and…revelations of their existence are now no longer to be expected.” The Christian Faith, 159.

 

Schleiermacher, tossing the fall of angels, demonic activity, the fall of Adam, and biblical affirmations: “Even if we could regard some or, indeed, all of those passages of Scripture as referring to the devil, there is still no reason for our accepting this notion as a permanent element in Christian doctrine and defining ti accordingly so accurately that everything attributed to the devil could be conceived as a consistent whole.” The Christian Faith, 167.