Johann Reuchlin 1455 1522 A Theological Biography 1st Edition by Franz Posset ISBN 3110418800 9783110418804

1 “The unique philosopher and theologian of our time”

1.1 Distorted views of Reuchlin and Pfefferkorn

1.2 The dominance of the scholastics and the rise of lay theologians

1.3 Church historical context

1.4 Reuchlin’s motivation

2 The early years with an experience of historical significance

2.1 Date of birth and of death

2.2 Learning Greek from Greeks

2.3 Employed in the homeland, member of the Dominican prayer confraternity, author of a dictionary, skilled Latin speaker, and first journey to Italy

2.4 In search of the name of God: Learning Hebrew, turning to theology

2.5 Marriage, work, travels, and the pursuit of classical studies, biblical languages, and theology

2.6 Back in Germany

2.7 An experience of historical significance at the court of the “King of the Jews” in 1492

3 The Wonder-Working Word of God

3.1 Still searching for a Hebrew Bible

3.2 The ecumenical project: On the way to a different Christian theology

3.3 The Wonder-Working Word: Spiritual connections

3.4 Recognized as the tri-lingual scholar and theologian: Pride and glory of the world

4 Talents and tasks of a pious Renaissance man

4.1 Translator from Greek into German, miffed for not being able to attend the Diet of Worms in

4.2 Among friends at Bishop Dalberg’s court

4.3 On sex and syphilis

4.4 Comical criticism of a cult

4.5 Drinking and shooting the breeze with friends

4.6 Sojourn in Rome,

4.7 In search of Greek and Jewish books while on business trips in German lands

4.8 The Hebrew codices in Reuchlin’s library

4.9 Praises of the Holy Cross (1503)

4.10 Hebrew studies on the rise – Who is the greater Hebraist?

5 Talking points with Jews are turned into accusation points

5.1 In search of an explanation for the suffering of the Jews: “Communal sin” (1505)

5.2 The Hebrew language must be kissed tenderly and embraced with both arms: The Rudiments of Hebrew

5.3 Reuchlin’s impact on the design of his printer’s identification device

5.4 “The enjoyment of God which we call Holy Communion”: Reuchlin observes the Lenten season (1509)

6 Jews under scrutiny and pressure to convert

6.1 A convert culture

6.2 A formidable opponent: Johann Pfefferkorn as missionary and ethnographer

6.3 Zealous convert meets Princess Kunigunde of Bavaria – The Mandate of Padua

7 “The Jewish faith is none of our business” and “The Jew is as worthy in the eyes of our Lord God as am I”

7.1 The encounter between Reuchlin and Pfefferkorn – Leading up to Reuchlin’s Expert Opinion of 1510

7.2 “The Jew is as worthy in the eyes of our Lord God as am I” -Concluding considerations in the Expert Opinion

7.3 Reuchlin practices what he preaches and continues research in monastic libraries

7.4 Academic opinions about Reuchlin and his position

7.5 Some personal ramifications: Away from the Dominicans and towards the Augustinians

8 Hand Mirror and Eye Glasses – and tolerance

8.1 Reuchlin’s Expert Opinion spawns Pfefferkorn’s Hand Mirror which causes Reuchlin’s Eye Glasses (1511)

8.2 Reuchlin is ready for martyrdom as inconsistencies in the Church’s legal tradition become apparent

8.3 Ecclesiastical tolerantia and ecclesiastical schizophrenia

8.4 The imperial Mandate of Cologne of 1512: The confiscation of Reuchlin’s books

9 The Latin people drink from the swamp, the Greeks from the rills, and the Hebrews from the sources

9.1 The Silver Bowl: Defense and attack through poetry

9.2 The Archangel Raphael as the founder of medicine; the Jewish Brahmans

9.3 The study of the psalms, particularly the Seven Penitential Psalms (1512)

9.4 Simultaneous developments in Italy: Felix de Prato Israelita’s fresh translation of the psalter; the printing of the Masoretic Bible and of the Talmud

9.5 Developments in German lands

10 Christians are grafted into the Jewish roots: “The Jews are our brothers”

10.1 The issue of Reuchlin being a theologian and a defender of the Jews

10.2 Reuchlin’s Defensio rejected by imperial decree; other mixed reactions

11 Trials and tribulations – “Honorable, faithful, dear to us”

11.1 Delusional about the Mandatum Silentii (June 1513)

11.2 Major universities condemn Reuchlin’s Eye Glasses

11.3 The Judgment of Speyer (March 1514) as the pope’s decision: Reuchlin acquitted of heresy; inquisitor must pay all the trial expenses

11.4 The Judgment of Paris (August 1514): Burn the book and the Talmud

11.5 Continued support for Reuchlin from the milieu of monastic humanism: Reuchlin is a benefit for the “fatherland”

11.6 Continued support from the Mutianus Circle and the authors of the Letters of Unknown Men: Reuchlin is the true theologian

11.7 From the Wittenberg milieu: Reuchlin is of sound and pure faith

11.8 Continued support from humanists

11.9 Reuchlin calling upon curial officers and upon a poet laureate

11.10 No luck with an old friend nor with an adverse humanist

11.11 Emperor to pope about Reuchlin: “Honorable, faithful, dear to us”

11.12 Continued national and international support for Reuchlin

11.13 Trying to get back to his beloved studies, supported by friends

12 Reuchlin’s triumph – Preliminary

12.1 Support from Rome; becoming a cardinal?

12.2 Fanning the flames from both sides

12.3 “Historical Truth” (Historica Veritas): The entire collected wisdom of antiquity was given to the Jews

12.4 Friends’ comfort and advice to quit his violent verbal abuse

12.5 Sympathizers in Augsburg

12.6 Other sympathizers of Reuchlin and adversaries of Pfefferkorn

12.7 The former inquisitor keeps attacking the Eye Glasses while Reuchlin is still busy as a lawyer

13 The lay theologian’s Catholic Cabala

13.1 What is Cabala and what is Reuchlin’s reason for writing his Catholic Cabala?

13.2 Sources for the Catholic Art of the Cabala

13.3 Major theological themes

13.4 Leading up to the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, understood by faith alone

13.5 A reminder for the pope: Reuchlin is of great service to the Church

14 “We have almost all of Rome on our side” – Acquitted of heresy, but fined

14.1 Pledged to Christ, studying the Sacred Scriptures under the Holy Spirit as the master

14.2 The situation in Rome 1516-1518: Hoogstraeten punished, Reuchlin acquitted

14.3 The situation in Germany 1518 -1521

14.4 Reuchlin’s Eye Glasses condemned and fined (1520)

14.5 Reuchliniani, Lutherani, Erasmistae – Reuchlin the loyal layman of the Church or a leader of liberty?

15 Hunted like a hare and celebrated by Christians and Jews for his life time achievements

15.1 Praise for Reuchlin as professor in Ingolstadt and Tübingen

15.2 Reuchlin as a “hunted hare”: His body should be parted into four pieces and impaled: Pfefferkorn’s last triumph in his Impassioned Plaint

15.3 “As if the first martyr of Hebrew letters” and “We will lay the foundations for a new future”

15.4 Glorification by Christians and Jews

Conclusion

Chronology

Select Bibliography

Index of Personal Names

Index of Biblical References

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