"Die onvoltooide reformasie van Martin Luther (1483-1546) ʼn Verkenning van die filosofiese grondslae van sy denke met spesiale aandag aan sy tweerykeleer "

• Published in: Koers (Potchefstroom, South Africa) South Africa), 2017, Vol.82 (2), p.1-20
• Main Author: van der Walt, Barend
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Subjects: Christianity; Government bonds; Intellectual development; Johannes Calvyn; Law and gospel; Martin Luther; Philosophy; philosophy and theology; reason and faith; Religion; Risk premiums; Theology; William of Ockham; William of Ockham (1285-1349)
• ISSN: 0023-270X; 2304-8557; 2304-8557
• DOI: 10.19108/KOERS.82.2.2348

The incomplete reformation of Martin Luther (1483-1546); a reconnaissance of the philosophical foundations of his thinking with special reference to his two-kingdom doctrine During the past five hundred years the studies written from a theological perspective on Luther’s thinking could fill a whole library, while not much is available about the deeper worldviewish-philosophical presuppositions of his intellectual development. Therefore this investigation traces the relevant late medieval influences on his thinking, especially the philosophy of William of Ockham (1285-1349). Special attention is given to the three phases in Luther’s development and his much debated two-kingdom doctrine, distinguishing between the rule of God’s left and right hand. Questions like the following will be discussed: When and why did this double-focus view of reality originate? What were the real issues which Luther tried to solve with such a paradigm? Could it be maintained in the light of God’s threefold revelation in creation, in Scripture and finally in Christ? Could it be regarded – as some contemporary Reformed theologians suggest – as a genuine Reformational approach? Should it not rather be viewed as an unfinished reformation, calling for continuous reformation? Samevatting Die afgelope 500 jaar het, in vergelyking met die magdom teologiese literatuur, min oor die diepere lewensbeskoulik-filosofiese grondslae van Luther se denkwêreld die lig gesien. Tot ʼn mate is dit verstaanbaar omdat hy primêr ʼn hervormer van kerk en teologie was. Ter herdenking van die gebeure op 31/10/1517 handel hierdie ondersoek oor die invloed van die laat-Middeleeuse filosofiese denke, in besonder dié van Willem van Ockham (1285-1349), op die reformator van Wittenberg. Daar word aangetoon hoe hy deur drie hoof fases ontwikkel het en daarna word spesiale aandag gegee aan sy bekende en omstrede leer van twee ryke, dié van God se linker- en regterhand. Onder andere die volgende vrae word in dié verband gestel. Wanneer en waarom het hierdie dubbelfokusvisie op die werklikheid ontstaan? Wat was die probleme wat Luther met so ʼn paradigma wou aanspreek? Kan so ʼn lewensvisie in die lig van God se drievoudige openbaring in die skepping, die Skrif en Christus gehandhaaf word? Kan dit – soos sekere Gereformeerde teoloë vandag weer suggereer – as werklik reformatories beskou word? Moet Luther se Christelike lewensbeskouing nie eerder gesien word as ʼn onvoltooide reformasie wat tot verdere reformasie roep nie?