Toleration, Tolerance, or Intolerance in the Works of the Young Martin Luther

The Issue with Jews in Early Sixteenth-Century Christian World View

Abstract

Martin Luther=s hateful and anti-Judaic sentiments have attracted much attention especially because they have often been identified as highly influential on modern anti-Semitism. But in his early years, Luther could harbor quite different attitudes. A critical reading of his treatise ADaß Jesus Christus ein geborner Jude sei@ from 1523 will allow us to gain important insights into the delicate and yet impactful approach to toleration as it had developed throughout the Middle Ages. While Luther espoused a specific form of toleration, he cannot be identified as a defender of tolerance in the modern sense of the word. Tragically, however, despite his early attempt at reaching out to people of Jewish faith, the famous reformer quickly changed his mind and embraced a most aggressive strategy against Jews at large. This article will highlight the intricate and fragile nature of toleration as it was pursued by many medieval and early modern intellectuals and writers, and demonstrate that this ideal was highly appealing, but also subject to quick changes to the opposite.