True Worship in the Spirit: Martin Chemnitz and the Minor Role of the Body in Worship

Abstract

Martin Chemnitz (1522–1586) is an extremely important theologian for the Lutheran tradition, however, he has received only modest scholarly interest. This article is the first examination of Chemnitz’s theology of indifferent rites, or adiaphora, which pays attention to its anthropological implications. The article is divided into five sections. The first section offers an overview of Luther’s and Melanchthon’s theology of worship in order to contextualize Chemnitz’s thought. The second section presents Chemnitz’s definition of worship and analyzes its implications for the soul-body relationship. The third section examines Chemnitz’s theology of the adiaphora and its ramifications for the participation of the body in worship. In the fourth section, a specific remark of Chemnitz is studied in which he indicates that our outward activity can promote spiritual well-being. The article concludes with a section that summarizes the findings and reflects on their importance for the Lutheran tradition.