Yet because Christ taught that Christians shall not resist evil with violence or take revenge, it is against His name.
In how many wars against the Turks have the bishops and clergy prevented Christians from enduring
heavy losses? Indeed, the king of Hungary and his bishops were beaten by the Turks at Varna and more
recently a German army would perhaps have fought with more success, if it had not contained priests. If I
were an emperor, a king, or a prince in a campaign against the Turks, I would encourage my bishops and
priests to stay at home and mind the duties of their office, praying, fasting, saying mass, preaching, and
caring for the poor, as not only Holy Scripture, but their own canon law teaches and requires. To this I say
Amen, Amen."
*a reference to a failed Christian Crusade launched against the Ottoman Turks in 1444
Martin Luther, German theologian, sermon addressed to a
German prince, 1528
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A historian interpreting the passage would most likely explain that the audience of the sermon is an
illustration of the fact that...
the Protestant German nobility adopted pacifist attitudes during religious disputes with their Catholic and Muslim opponents
papal alliances with the Holy Roman emperors led to widespread religious persecutions in Germany
political support from the German nobility aided in the development of the early Protestant com Time left for this
the Protestant German nobility was wary of confronting the Ottomans without Catholic support