23 February 1537 A.D. Luther’s “Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope” (=Clean-up on Aisle 6)
23 February 1537 A.D. Luther’s “Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope” Luther, Martin. “A Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope.” The Book of Concord. 23 Feb 2014. http://bookofconcord.org/treatise.php . Accessed 11 Dec 2014. Refer to The Historical Introductions for more information about the development of the Treatise. A Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald - 1537 1] The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom]. 2] Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.]. 3] And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that ...