Majoristic Controversy

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MAJORISTIC CONTROVERSY

Named after Georg major, pertained to most of the 16th-century disputations between the exponents of Philipp melanchthon's conciliatory interpretations of the theology of Martin luther, and the Gneisolutherans, who resisted any modifications of the original or pure Lutheranism (see philippism; gnesiolutheranism). The debates ranged over the acceptance by Lutherans of certain Catholic religious practices as indifferent matters (Adiaphorism), the nature of the Real Presence in the Lord's Supper (see crypto-calvinism), and chiefly the role of good works in the process of justification (Solafideism). The original setting of the controversy was supplied by the Interim conferences, in which some rapprochement was sought with Catholics (see interims). While Major held that good works have no merit in justification as such, still they are necessary because they are divinely commanded and are evidence of faith. He was attacked by Nickolaus von amsdorf in 1551 and by other Gnesiolutherans, notably Matthias flacius illyricus and Nikolaus Gallus (151670). By 1553 it was agreed that Major had not erred in doctrine, but in expression only, and that among themselves Lutherans might not insist upon the words "by faith alone," although they would when among Catholics, as in the Interim conferences, to avoid misunderstanding.

For bibliography, see major, georg.

[q. breen]