Martin Luthers Konzeption des geistlichen Amtes in Bezug auf die Communio Sanctorum und Hieronymus' Auffassung des Bischofsamtes
Martin Luther’s belief on priesthood ministry reffered to the idea of communio sanctorum and Blessed Jeronimus’ teaching about episcopal ministry

Summary/Abstract: In the framework of Martin Luther’s dispute with the Roman Catholic Church, he suggests a different view on the priesthood ministry, episcopal ministry respectively. In contradiction with the Church, Martin Luther highlights the duty of every Christian, who is baptized and called to sanctity, to Communio Sanctorum, stating that he must take part to the exercise of priesthood ministry, as long as every Christian’s general priesthood does not contradict, in his opinion, the special ministry of the consecrated ones. Yet, Martin Luther does not question the right that the Church has to delegate this ministry to persons chosen from its members. What differentiates Luther from the official standing of the Church in his times is the fact that this procedure is not a sacramental, but rather a purely functional one. Regarding the episcopal ministry, this does not differentiate at all from the priesthood one, Martin Luther reckoning its theological reasoning on some of Blessed Jeronimus’ assertions in favor of this viewpoint, in which the latter identifies the episcopal ministry with the priesthood one.

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