Of the Papacy
1] That the Pope is not, according to divine law or according to the Word of God the head of all
Christendom (for this [name] belongs to One only, whose name is Jesus Christ), but is only the bishop
and pastor of the Church at Rome, and of those who voluntarily or through a human creature (that is, a
political magistrate) have attached themselves to him, to be Christians, not under him as a lord, but with
him as brethren [colleagues] and comrades, as the ancient councils and the age of St. Cyprian show.
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2] But to-day none of the bishops dare to address the Pope as brother as was done at that time [in the age
of Cyprian]; but they must call him most gracious lord, even though they be kings or emperors. This
[Such arrogance] we will not, cannot, must not take upon our conscience [with a good conscience
approve]. Let him, however, who will do it, do so without us [at his own risk].
3] Hence it follows that all things which the Pope, from a power so false, mischievous, blasphemous, and
arrogant, has done and undertaken. have been and still are purely diabolical affairs and transactions (with
the exception of such things as pertain to the secular government, where God often permits much good to
be effected for a people, even through a tyrant and [faithless] scoundrel) for the ruin of the entire holy
[catholic or] Christian Church (so far as it is in his power) and for the destruction of the first and chief
article concerning the redemption made through Jesus Christ.
4] For all his bulls and books are extant, in which he roars like a lion (as the angel in Rev. 12 depicts
him, [crying out] that no Christian can be saved unless he obeys him and is subject to him in all things
that he wishes, that he says, and that he does. All of which amounts to nothing less than saying: Although
you believe in Christ, and have in Him [alone] everything that is necessary to salvation, yet it is nothing
and all in vain unless you regard [have and worship] me as your god, and be subject and obedient to me.
And yet it is manifest that the holy Church has been without the Pope for at least more than five hundred
years, and that even to the present day the churches of the Greeks and of many other languages neither
have been nor are yet under the Pope. 5] Besides, as often remarked, it is a human figment which is not
commanded, and is unnecessary and useless; for the holy Christian [or catholic] Church can exist very
well without such a head, and it would certainly have remained better [purer, and its career would have
been more prosperous] if such a head had not been raised up by the devil. 6] And the Papacy is also of no
use in the Church, because it exercises no Christian office; and therefore it is necessary for the Church to
continue and to exist without the Pope.
7] And supposing that the Pope would yield this point, so as not to be supreme by divine right or from
Gods command, but that we must have [there must be elected] a [certain] head, to whom all the rest
adhere [as their support] in order that the [concord and] unity of Christians may be preserved against
sects and heretics, and that such a head were chosen by men, and that it were placed within the choice
and power of men to change or remove this head, just as the Council of Constance adopted nearly this
course with reference to the Popes, deposing three and electing a fourth; supposing, I say, that the Pope
and See at Rome would yield and accept this (which, nevertheless, is impossible; for thus he would have
to suffer his entire realm and estate to be overthrown and destroyed, with all his rights and books, a thing
which, to speak in few words, he cannot do), nevertheless, even in this way Christianity would not be
helped, but many more sects would arise than before.
8] For since men would have to be subject to this head, not from God’s command, but from their
personal good pleasure, it would easily and in a short time be despised, and at last retain no member;
neither would it have to be forever confined to Rome or any other place, but it might be wherever and in
whatever church God would grant a man fit for the [taking upon him such a great] office. Oh, the
complicated and confused state of affairs [perplexity] that would result!
9] Therefore the Church can never be better governed and preserved than if we all live under one head,
Christ, and all the bishops equal in office (although they be unequal in gifts), be diligently joined in unity
of doctrine, faith, Sacraments, prayer, and works of love, etc., as St. Jerome writes that the priests at
Alexandria together and in common governed the churches, as did also the apostles, and afterwards all
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bishops throughout all Christendom, until the Pope raised his head above all.
10] This teaching shows forcefully that the Pope is the very Antichrist, who has exalted himself above,
and opposed himself against Christ because he will not permit Christians to be saved without his power,
which, nevertheless, is nothing, and is neither ordained nor commanded by God. 11] This is, properly
speaking to exalt himself above all that is called God as Paul says, 2 Thess. 2, 4. Even the Turks or the
Tartars, great enemies of Christians as they are, do not do this, but they allow whoever wishes to believe
in Christ, and take bodily tribute and obedience from Christians.
12] The Pope, however, prohibits this faith, saying that to be saved a person must obey him. This we are
unwilling to do, even though on this account we must die in God s name. 13] This all proceeds from the
fact that the Pope has wished to be called the supreme head of the Christian Church by divine right.
Accordingly he had to make himself equal and superior to Christ, and had to cause himself to be
proclaimed the head and then the lord of the Church, and finally of the whole world, and simply God on
earth, until he has dared to issue commands even to the angels in heaven. 14] And when we distinguish
the Pope’s teaching from, or measure and hold it against, Holy Scripture, it is found [it appears plainly]
that the Pope’s teaching, where it is best, has been taken from the imperial and heathen law and treats of
political matters and decisions or rights, as the Decretals show; furthermore, it teaches of ceremonies
concerning churches, garments, food, persons and [similar] puerile, theatrical and comical things without
measure, but in all these things nothing at all of Christ, faith, and the commandments of God. Lastly, it is
nothing else than the devil himself, because above and against God he urges [and disseminates] his
[papal] falsehoods concerning masses, purgatory, the monastic life, one’s own works and [fictitious]
divine worship (for this is the very Papacy [upon each of which the Papacy is altogether founded and is
standing]), and condemns, murders and tortures all Christians who do not exalt and honor these
abominations [of the Pope] above all things. Therefore, just as little as we can worship the devil himself
as Lord and God, we can endure his apostle, the Pope, or Antichrist, in his rule as head or lord. For to lie
and to kill, and to destroy body and soul eternally, that is wherein his papal government really consists,
as I have very clearly shown in many books.
15] In these four articles they will have enough to condemn in the Council. For they cannot and will not
concede us even the least point in one of these articles. Of this we should be certain, and animate
ourselves with [be forewarned and made firm in] the hope that Christ, our Lord, has attacked His
adversary, and he will press the attack home [pursue and destroy him] both by His Spirit and coming.
Amen.
16] For in the Council we will stand not before the Emperor or the political magistrate, as at Augsburg
(where the Emperor published a most gracious edict, and caused matters to be heard kindly [and
dispassionately]), but [we will appear] before the Pope and devil himself, who intends to listen to
nothing, but merely [when the case has been publicly announced] to condemn, to murder and to force us
to idolatry. Therefore we ought not here to kiss his feet, or to say: Thou art my gracious lord, but as the
angel in Zechariah 3, 2 said to Satan: The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan.
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THE THIRD PART OF THE ARTICLES.
Concerning the following articles we may [will be able to] treat with learned and reasonable men, or
among ourselves. The Pope and his [the Papal] government do not care much about these. For with them
conscience is nothing, but money, [glory] honors, power are [to them] everything.