Lukas von Prag und die Rezeption seiner Theologie im theologischen Gespräch der heutigen Brüder-Unität

Abstract

Luke of Prague was an important theologian of the ancient Unity of the Brethren. During the transition from the founding generation to the 16th century, he developed and worked out afresh the Unity’s theological and social-ethical positions. Especially important was the distinction between ‘essentials’, ‘ministerials’, and ‘incidentals’, which enabled Luke to set out the difference between God’s salvific work and human institutions. Since the beginning of the 20th century the memory of Luke of Prague has grown greatly in the collective consciousness of the worldwide Moravian Church. In the last thirty years or so his talk of essentials, ministerials, and incidentals has played an important role in theological discussion within the worldwide Unity. Terminological overlaps with the proverb ‘In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in things all love’, which is sometimes called a ‘Moravian motto’, are an important reason for this. Although these similar formulations are by no means identical, reflection on how what is “essential” in the common faith of the Moravian Church can be understood by reference to Luke has resulted in perspectives that help to shape future discussion.