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Smalcald Articles

Martin Luther · 1537

Martin Luther's 1537 summary of Lutheran doctrine, written for a planned meeting of the Schmalkaldic League.

Luther wrote this doctrinal summary himself, regarding it as so important that he had it included in his will.

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Handwritten manuscript page in German, dated 1537 at top, with numbered paragraphs and crossed-out words. The heading reads 'Das erste teil ist von den hohen artikeln der göttlichen Majestät' and the text describes the Trinity. Page numbered 2.
Martin Luther, Smalcald Articles, manuscript, 1536-1537.

About this source

What it is

A statement of Christian doctrine written by Martin Luther in 1537 for the Schmalkaldic League, a union of Lutheran territories and cities, ahead of a planned church council.

Why it matters

Luther set out what he considered the most essential teachings of Christianity, especially that faith alone justifies believers, and insisted this article could never be given up. Though the League chose not to formally adopt the document at the time, favouring a text by Philipp Melanchthon instead, Luther valued it so highly that he had it included in his will, and it was later accepted into the official Book of Concord of Lutheran confessions.

Look closer

  • Why might Luther have insisted that one particular teaching could never be yielded, even if 'heaven and earth' fell?
  • What does it tell us that the League initially rejected Luther's text in favour of Melanchthon's?
  • Why might this document later have been included in Luther's will?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Luther Bible

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