Did Martin Luther believe in an eternal hell?

Isn't he saying here that everyone who dies, saved and lost, will be asleep waiting for the final Judgment?

 

Hmmm...I've never heard of Martin Luther believing such a thing.

And that one little sound-bite is not enough to come to such a conclusion, IMHO.

Perhaps a Lutheran will chime in, or someone who has read more of Luther's works.

 

You will wait a long time for a Lutheran to chime in, because this is Baptist only forum! :wavey:

 

If it wasn't for Martin Luther, there wouldn't have been the Protestant Reformation. This established a difference between Catholic & Protestant. I probably would have been Catholic if it didn't take place.

I would have to believe that Martin Luther believed in a Hell. Otherwise, why would he have broken away from the Catholic Church? I don't think he believed in Purgatory, which is what Catholics believe in.

 

According to church history texts, including the Lutheran, A History of the Christian Church, Lars P. Qualben (St. Olaf College), Luther remained Catholic in theology to his dying day, with a few exceptions. He did not want to leave the Catholic Church. He wanted to reform it. Get rid of the extra biblical concepts and ideas, including indulgences. His doctrinal views were all over the board as he continued to develop his thinking.

After he was excommunicated, he had more political and state influence in Germany than theological. Germany reformed in political posture and churches did spring up with more freedom of religion and some reformed state-oriented doctrines.

It is an interesting read, but you might find it a little confusing theologically.

He absolutely feared hell more than anything in the beginning. It was the fear of hell that drove him to the priesthood. If one reads of Luther in the early days, one will find a literal hell of fire, a purgatory of relief from Hell's fire and eventually a system of soul sleep.

In general history it is difficult to sort out truth from fiction regarding Luther. Some books call hi a filthy-mouthed individual who had nothing but disdane for the pope and the sh*t that came from his mouth. Other texts will praise him to the hilt for his political and moral leadership.

As I said, it is hard to follow the history because it is all over the board, but still, a must read and a lot of reading between the lines to develop a theology from him.

Cheers,

Jim