Epiphany Season – Confident.Faith

Today we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.

Today we commemorate the Birth of Philipp Melanchthon, Confessor. Philipp Melanchthon, an academic by nature, became one of the leading proponents of Lutheranism when he took up the task of drafting the Augsburg Confession that was presented to the Emperor on 25 June 1530. Earlier, Melanchthon had been encouraged by Martin Luther (who was under papal excommunication and an imperial ban, and so could not attend Augsburg) to take up teaching theology and Scripture. A fellow professor at Wittenberg, Melanchthon’s writings and reforms would have far-reaching and long-lasting impact.

Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.