Zagadnienie kary śmierci w luterańskich księgach wyznaniowych

Abstract

A question of the death penalty in Lutheran confessional books

The text deals with point of view on the capital punishment presented in The Large Cathechism by Martin Luther 1529, The Apology of the Augsburg Confession 1531, The Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope 1537 and The Formula of Concord 1580. Polish scientist rarely rise that subject, in contrast with a problem of the death penalty in Catholicism. I shortly write about circumstances of origin of commented sources. I present justification of the Reformer’s believes whom they contain. I show influence of then German legal system large application of the capital punishment, the ecclesiastical Tradition, whom the Reformers could not fully reject St. Austin and personal situation of Martin Luther searching for support of lay authorities in order to not be executed as a heretic.