In 1492, while Columbus was sailing the ocean blue, a baron’s wife in Bavaria gave birth to a little girl. This tiny gift from God was named Argula von Grumbach. Thirty-one years later, this noble woman penned one of the most courageous letters ever written.
Because Argula was from a wealthy family, they could afford a Bible and she was given one at age 10. By the time she was 31, she was said to be a “walking Bible.” Moreover, she grew up as a handmaiden to the Queen in the court of Munich. There she would have heard sermons and lectures by Joahnn Staupitz. Contrary to the popular beliefs of the day, Staupitz taught it was Christ’s merits, not our own which bring salvation.
Von Grumbach had soaked in the Scriptures from a young age, heard clear gospel preaching, and had become convinced that Luther and the Reformers were right in their theology. Again, this was not because she was enamored with the Reformers, or had an ax to grind against Rome. Just the opposite: it was Scripture alone that shaped her theology.
This was one of the central beliefs of the Reformers--sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). Unlike the Roman Catholic Church which taught that tradition held an equal weight as Scripture, the Reformers denied any authority above God's Word. No pope, pastor, or church body can claim to hold authority over a believer in an absolute sense. God through his Word is the absolute authority in the life of every believer.
This principle played out clearly in the life of Argula von Grumbach. To her, the errors of Rome were all too clear because they did not align with the Bible. This led her to act courageously on behalf a young student named Seehofer at the nearby University of Ingolstadt. He had been promoting the teaching of Martin Luther. In response, the Catholic leadership of the University had this poor eighteen-year-old tortured into recanting not only his belief in Luther’s theology but even his faith in Christ.
Being incensed by this young student’s treatment, she picked up her quill and ink and penned a letter to the Professors of the University. Here is just some of what she said:
To the honorable, worthy, highborn, erudite, noble, stalwart Rector and all the Faculty of the University of Ingolstadt: When I heard what you had done to Arsacius Seehofer under terror of imprisonment and the stake, my heart trembled and my bones quaked. What have Luther and Melanchthon taught save the Word of God? You have condemned them. You have not refuted them. Where do you read in the Bible that Christ, the apostles, and the prophets imprisoned, banished, burned, or murdered anyone? You tell us that we must obey the magistrates. Correct. But neither the pope, nor the Kaiser, not the princes have any authority over the Word of God. . . .
How in God’s name can you and your university expect to prevail, when you deploy such foolish violence against the word of God; when you force someone to hold the Holy Gospel in their hands for the very purpose of denying it, as you did in the case of Arsacius Seehofer?
Von Grumbach goes on to cite over eighty passages of Scriptures that she feels applied to the situation. She even offered to come and debate the professors themselves!
What gave her such confidence, such boldness to leave the expected station of a woman in her day? To challenge powerful and educated men? Nothing less than her complete confidence in the perfect, authoritative Word of God. This was clear from her letter's ending:
Even if it might happen that Luther recant, God forbid, it shall not disturb me. I do not rely on his, my, or anybody’s intellect, but only on the true rock of Christ himself . . . .
What I have written to you is no woman’s chit-chat, but the word of God; and (I write) as a member of the Christian Church, against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail. Against the Roman [Church], however, they do prevail. Just look at that Church! How is it to prevail against the gates of Hell? God give us grace, that we all may be saved, and may (God) rule us according to his will. Now may His grace carry the day.
Amen!
Argula von Grumbach is just one small slice of church history that provides a wonderful testimony as we think about Reformation Day and the ongoing need to embrace the same theology and practice. May her tribe increase!
Sources:
Interview with Albert Mohler and Timothy George “Reading Scripture with the Reformers: A Conversation with Timothy F. George” (transcript dated September 17, 2012) accessed online at http://www.albertmohler.com/2012/09/17/reading-scripture-with-the-reformers-a-conversation-with-timothy-f-george-transcript.
Diane Severance, “You Wouldn’t Want to Argue with Argula” (Christianity.com website), accessed online at http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1201-1500/you-wouldnt-want-to-argue-with-argula-11629897.html
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