The Lutheranism of Thomas Hobbes

History of Political Thought

Volumn 18, Issue 4, 1997, Pages 604-623

  Overhoff, Jürgen ^a  

^a NONE

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References (237)

1. This essay is a slightly amended version of a paper presented in October 1996 to seminars in the History of Political Ideas and Early Modern British History at the Institute of Historical Research, London and the University of Cambridge. For their many valuable comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this essay I wish to thank Quentin Skinner as well as the participants in the seminars held in London and Cambridge.
2. Thomas Hobbes, The Questions Concerning Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, in The English Works, ed. Sir William Molesworth (London, 1841) Vol. V, p. 64.
3. Ibid., p. 266.
4. Ibid.
5. Such is the title of the anonymous translation of the Historia ecclesiastica (London, 1722).
6. Thomas Hobbes, Historia ecclesiastica, in Opera philosophica, ed. Sir William Molesworth (London, 1845), Vol. V, p. 392, lines 1621-2.
7. Thomas Hobbes, Behemoth or the Long Parliament, ed. Ferdinand Tönnies, with an introduction by Stephen Holmes (Chicago, 3rd edn., 1990), p. 18.
8. Ibid.
9. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, ed. Richard Tuck (Cambridge, 1991), p. 490.
10. Ibid.
11. Thomas Hobbes, Critique du 'De mundo' de Thomas White, ed. Jean Jacquot and Harold Whitmore Jones (Paris, 1973), eh. X.9, p. 178. This judgment is underlined by Aubrey's statement that Hobbes 'extremely venerated and magnified' Galileo, 'and not only as he was a prodigious witt, but for his sweetness of nature and manners'. See John Aubrey, Brief Lives, ed. A. Clark (Oxford, 1898), Vol. I, p. 366.
12. Thomas Hobbes, Critique du 'De mundo' de Thomas White, ed. Jean Jacquot and Harold Whitmore Jones (Paris, 1973), eh. X.9, p. 178. This judgment is underlined by Aubrey's statement that Hobbes 'extremely venerated and magnified' Galileo, 'and not only as he was a prodigious witt, but for his sweetness of nature and manners'. See John Aubrey, Brief Lives, ed. A. Clark (Oxford, 1898), Vol. I, p. 366.
13. Letter from Hobbes to William Cavendish, Earl of Newcastle, from London, dated 26 January [5 February] 1634 in Thomas Hobbes, The Correspondence, ed. Noel Malcolm, Vol. I (Oxford, 1994), p. 19.
14. Arrigo Pacchi, 'Some Guidelines into Hobbes's Theology', Hobbes Studies, 2 (1989), p. 87.
15. See Ibid.
16. Richard Tuck, 'Introduction to Hobbes's Leviathan', in Hobbes, Leviathan, p. xliv.
17. See Howard Warrender, The Political Philosophy of Hobbes: His Theory of Obligation (Oxford 1957); and Howard Warrender, 'The Place of God in Hobbes's Philosophy', Political Studies, 8 (1960), pp. 48-57.
18. See Howard Warrender, The Political Philosophy of Hobbes: His Theory of Obligation (Oxford 1957); and Howard Warrender, 'The Place of God in Hobbes's Philosophy', Political Studies, 8 (1960), pp. 48-57.
19. Leopold Damrosch, 'Hobbes as Reformation Theologian: Implications of the Free-Will Controversy', Journal of the History of Ideas, 40 (1979), p. 340.
20. A.P. Martinich, The Two Gods of Leviathan (Cambridge, 1992), p. 1.
21. John Pocock, 'Time, History, and Eschatology in the Thought of Thomas Hobbes', in Politics, Language, and Time (New York, 1971), p. 192.
22. On Hobbes's alleged defence of a pagan civil religion, see Richard Tuck, 'The Civil Religion of Thomas Hobbes', in Political Discourse in Early Modern Britain, ed. N. Phillipson and Q. Skinner (Cambridge, 1993), pp. 120-38;
23. and Michael Oakeshott, 'Introduction to Leviathan', in Hobbes on Civil Association (Oxford, 1975), esp. pp. 69-70.
24. On Hobbes's Hebrew ideas, see Mordecai Roshwald, 'The Judeo-Christian Elements in Hobbes's Leviathan', Hobbes Studies, 7 (1994), pp. 95-124.
25. On atheism, see Richard Tuck, 'The "Christian Atheism" of Thomas Hobbes', in Atheism from the Reformation to the Enlightenment, ed. M. Hunter and D. Wootton (Oxford, 1992), pp. 11-130;
26. and David Berman, A History of Atheism in Britain: From Hobbes to Russell (London, New York, Sydney, 1988), esp. pp. 64-9.
27. See Klaus-Michael Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter: Martin Luthers Ansichten zu Staat, Recht und Gewalt als Vorgriff auf Hobbes', in Hobbes oggi, ed. A. Canziani (Milan, 1990), pp. 122-42; and Klaus-Michael Kodalle, Thomas Hobbes - Logik der Herrschaft und Vernunft des Friedens (Munich, 1972), esp. p. 120. Both studies are flawed by the fact that Kodalle adopts an entirely ahistorical approach in his attempt to show 'wie "lutherisch" der Politikansatz, von Hobbes ist' (Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter', p. 142). Note in particular that he seeks to depict Luther as a thinker who anticipates Hobbes. He admits, however, that 'Studien wie die hier vorgelegte zu Hobbesschen Motiven in der Intellektualgeschichte vor Hobbes' have only 'einen begrenzten Wert' (ibid.).
28. See Klaus-Michael Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter: Martin Luthers Ansichten zu Staat, Recht und Gewalt als Vorgriff auf Hobbes', in Hobbes oggi, ed. A. Canziani (Milan, 1990), pp. 122-42; and Klaus-Michael Kodalle, Thomas Hobbes - Logik der Herrschaft und Vernunft des Friedens (Munich, 1972), esp. p. 120. Both studies are flawed by the fact that Kodalle adopts an entirely ahistorical approach in his attempt to show 'wie "lutherisch" der Politikansatz, von Hobbes ist' (Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter', p. 142). Note in particular that he seeks to depict Luther as a thinker who anticipates Hobbes. He admits, however, that 'Studien wie die hier vorgelegte zu Hobbesschen Motiven in der Intellektualgeschichte vor Hobbes' have only 'einen begrenzten Wert' (ibid.).
29. See Klaus-Michael Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter: Martin Luthers Ansichten zu Staat, Recht und Gewalt als Vorgriff auf Hobbes', in Hobbes oggi, ed. A. Canziani (Milan, 1990), pp. 122-42; and Klaus-Michael Kodalle, Thomas Hobbes - Logik der Herrschaft und Vernunft des Friedens (Munich, 1972), esp. p. 120. Both studies are flawed by the fact that Kodalle adopts an entirely ahistorical approach in his attempt to show 'wie "lutherisch" der Politikansatz, von Hobbes ist' (Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter', p. 142). Note in particular that he seeks to depict Luther as a thinker who anticipates Hobbes. He admits, however, that 'Studien wie die hier vorgelegte zu Hobbesschen Motiven in der Intellektualgeschichte vor Hobbes' have only 'einen begrenzten Wert' (ibid.).
30. See Klaus-Michael Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter: Martin Luthers Ansichten zu Staat, Recht und Gewalt als Vorgriff auf Hobbes', in Hobbes oggi, ed. A. Canziani (Milan, 1990), pp. 122-42; and Klaus-Michael Kodalle, Thomas Hobbes - Logik der Herrschaft und Vernunft des Friedens (Munich, 1972), esp. p. 120. Both studies are flawed by the fact that Kodalle adopts an entirely ahistorical approach in his attempt to show 'wie "lutherisch" der Politikansatz, von Hobbes ist' (Kodalle, 'Sterbliche Götter', p. 142). Note in particular that he seeks to depict Luther as a thinker who anticipates Hobbes. He admits, however, that 'Studien wie die hier vorgelegte zu Hobbesschen Motiven in der Intellektualgeschichte vor Hobbes' have only 'einen begrenzten Wert' (ibid.).
31. See Damrosch, 'Hobbes as Reformation Theologian'.
32. Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, p. 266.
33. John Bramhall, A Defence of True Liberty from Antecedent and Extrinsecall Necessity (London, 1655).
34. Ibid., p. 6.
35. Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, p. 29. J.D. is Hobbes's abbreviation of John Bramhall, Bishop of Derry.
36. Thomas Hobbes, Of Liberty and Necessity, in The English Works, ed. Sir William Molesworth (London, 1840), Vol. IV, p. 239.
37. See Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, p. 25.
38. The preface was written by Hobbes's translator, John Davys of Kidwelly.
39. Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, p. 2.
40. Brarnhall, Defence of True Liberty, Epistle Dedicatory to the Right Honourable the Marquis of Newcastle.
41. Bramhall, Defence of True Liberty, p. 60.
42. Ibid., p.61
43. Hobbes, Liberty, Necessity, and Chance, p. 209.
44. Ibid., p. 405.
45. Ibid., p. 176.
46. Ibid., p. 65.
47. Ibid., p. 299.
48. Ibid., p. 266.
49. Ibid., p. 1.
50. Ibid., p. 64.
51. Ibid.
52. Ibid., p. 245.
53. Ibid.
54. Ibid., p. 222.
55. Ibid., p. 138.
56. Ibid., p. 340.
57. Ibid., p. 139.
58. Ibid., p. 247.
59. Ibid., p. 105.
60. Ibid.
61. Ibid.
62. Ibid.
63. Ibid.
64. Ibid., p. 428.
65. Ibid., p. 55.
66. Ibid.
67. Ibid.
68. Ibid., p. 215.
69. Ibid., p. 138.
70. Ibid., pp. 138-9.
71. Ibid., p. 229.
72. Ibid., p. 235.
73. Ibid., p. 272.
74. Ibid., p. 260.
75. Ibid., p. 298.
76. Ibid., p. 299.
77. Ibid.
78. Ibid., p. 115.
79. Ibid., p. 104.
80. Ibid.,p. 116.
81. Ibid., p. 18.
82. Ibid., p. 115.
83. Ibid.
84. Ibid., p. 103.
85. Ibid.
86. Ibid., p. 153.
87. Ibid., p. 154.
88. Ibid., p. 307.
89. Ibid., p. 217.
90. As late as 1537 Luther emphasized the lasting value of this treatise when he wrote a letter to Capito, stating that he did not regard any of his books worth surviving the occasion for which it was written 'apart from, possibly, the Bondage of the Will and the Catechism'. See Martin Luther, Briefwechsel, Nr. 3162, Vol. 8 (Weimar, 1938), pp. 99-100.
91. Martin Luther, De servo arbitrio, in Werke, Vol. 18 (Weimar, 1908), p. 614. I have followed the good and readily-accessible translation in Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation, The Bondage of the Will, ed. G. Rupp and P.S. Watson (London, 1969), p. 117.
92. Martin Luther, De servo arbitrio, in Werke, Vol. 18 (Weimar, 1908), p. 614. I have followed the good and readily-accessible translation in Luther and Erasmus: Free Will and Salvation, The Bondage of the Will, ed. G. Rupp and P.S. Watson (London, 1969), p. 117.
93. Luther, De servo arbitrio, p. 614; Luther, Bondage, p. 117.
94. Luther, De servo arbitrio, p. 614; Luther, Bondage, p. 117.
95. Ibid.
96. De servo arbitrio, p. 615; Bondage, p. 118.
97. De servo arbitrio, p. 615; Bondage, p. 118.
98. De servo arbitrio, p. 709; Bondage, p. 232. Cf. 1 Cor 12.6.
99. De servo arbitrio, p. 709; Bondage, p. 232. Cf. 1 Cor 12.6.
100. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 234.
101. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 234.
102. Ibid.
103. Ibid.
104. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
105. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
106. De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 233.
107. De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 233.
108. De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
109. De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
110. De servo arbitrio, p. 709; Bondage, p. 232.
111. De servo arbitrio, p. 709; Bondage, p. 232.
112. See De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
113. See De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
114. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
115. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
116. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
117. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
118. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
119. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
120. De servo arbitrio, p. 761; Bondage, p. 299.
121. De servo arbitrio, p. 761; Bondage, p. 299.
122. De servo arbitrio, p. 750; Bondage, p. 285.
123. De servo arbitrio, p. 750; Bondage, p. 285.
124. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 140.
125. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 140.
126. De servo arbitrio, p. 635; Bondage, p. 140.
127. De servo arbitrio, p. 635; Bondage, p. 140.
128. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
129. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
130. Ibid.
131. Ibid.
132. De servo arbitrio, p. 663; Bondage, p. 171.
133. De servo arbitrio, p. 663; Bondage, p. 171.
134. De servo arbitrio, p. 714; Bondage, p. 239.
135. De servo arbitrio, p. 714; Bondage, p. 239.
136. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
137. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
138. De servo arbitrio, p. 616 n. 1; Bondage, p. 120.
139. De servo arbitrio, p. 616 n. 1; Bondage, p. 120.
140. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
141. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
142. Ibid.
143. Luther called this type of free choice mutable or vertible choice. Cf. De servo arbitrio, p. 662 and Bondage, p. 170.
144. Luther called this type of free choice mutable or vertible choice. Cf. De servo arbitrio, p. 662 and Bondage, p. 170.
145. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 286.
146. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 286.
147. De servo arbitrio, p. 771; Bondage, p. 313.
148. De servo arbitrio, p. 771; Bondage, p. 313.
149. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
150. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
151. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
152. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
153. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
154. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 287.
155. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 287.
156. See De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
157. See De servo arbitrio, p. 710; Bondage, p. 234.
158. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
159. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
160. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
161. De servo arbitrio, p. 711; Bondage, p. 235.
162. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
163. De servo arbitrio, p. 712; Bondage, p. 236.
164. De servo arbitrio, p. 761; Bondage, p. 299.
165. De servo arbitrio, p. 761; Bondage, p. 299.
166. De servo arbitrio, p. 750; Bondage, p. 285.
167. De servo arbitrio, p. 750; Bondage, p. 285.
168. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 140.
169. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 140.
170. De servo arbitrio, p. 635; Bondage, p. 140.
171. De servo arbitrio, p. 635; Bondage, p. 140.
172. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
173. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
174. Ibid.
175. Ibid.
176. De servo arbitrio, p. 663; Bondage, p. 171.
177. De servo arbitrio, p. 663; Bondage, p. 171.
178. De servo arbitrio, p. 714; Bondage, p. 239.
179. De servo arbitrio, p. 714; Bondage, p. 239.
180. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
181. De servo arbitrio, p. 634; Bondage, p. 139.
182. De servo arbitrio, p. 616 n. 1; Bondage, p. 120.
183. De servo arbitrio, p. 616 n. 1; Bondage, p. 120.
184. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
185. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
186. Ibid.
187. Luther called this type of free choice mutable or vertible choice. Cf. De servo arbitrio, p. 662 and Bondage, p. 170.
188. Luther called this type of free choice mutable or vertible choice. Cf. De servo arbitrio, p. 662 and Bondage, p. 170.
189. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 286.
190. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 286.
191. De servo arbitrio, p. 771; Bondage, p. 313.
192. De servo arbitrio, p. 771; Bondage, p. 313.
193. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
194. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
195. Heinrich Bornkamm, Luther in Mid-Career 1521-1530 (London, 1983), p. 450. Iwand and Hermann argue similarly. See Hans Joachim Iwand, 'Studien zum Problem des unfreien Willens', in Um den rechten Glauben. Gesammelte Aufsätze (Munich, 1959), p. 53; Rudolf Hermann, Zu Luthers Lehre vom unfreien Willen (Berlin, 1931), p. 23.
196. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
197. De servo arbitrio, p. 638; Bondage, p. 143.
198. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 287.
199. De servo arbitrio, p. 752; Bondage, p. 287.
200. De servo arbitrio, p. 630; Bondage, p. 134.
201. De servo arbitrio, p. 630; Bondage, p. 134.
202. De servo arbitrio, p. 729; Bondage, p. 258.
203. De servo arbitrio, p. 729; Bondage, p. 258.
204. Ibid. Cf. Rom 9.21.
205. De servo arbitrio, p. 684; Bondage, p. 200.
206. De servo arbitrio, p. 684; Bondage, p. 200.
207. Ibid.
208. De servo arbitrio, p. 747; Bondage, p. 280.
209. De servo arbitrio, p. 747; Bondage, p. 280.
210. De servo arbitrio, p. 695; Bondage, p. 214. Cf. 1 Cor 3.9.
211. De servo arbitrio, p. 695; Bondage, p. 214. Cf. 1 Cor 3.9.
212. De servo arbitrio, p. 675; Bondage, p. 187.
213. De servo arbitrio, p. 675; Bondage, p. 187.
214. This is the wording of the subtitle of the Castigations of Mr. Hobbes. See John Bramhall, Castigations of Mr. Hobbes (London, 1658).
215. Bramhall, Castigations, p. 256.
216. Ibid.
217. Ibid., p. 5.
218. Ibid.
219. Ibid.
220. Ibid., p. 281.
221. Letter from Edward Bagshaw to Hobbes, from Westminster, 1[11] March 1658, in Hobbes, Correspondence, Vol. I, p. 498.
222. Ibid.
223. Ibid.
224. Noel Malcolm, 'Biographical Register of Hobbes's Correspondents', in Hobbes, Correspondence, p. 783.
225. Edward Bagshaw, A Letter to Mr Thomas Pierce (London, 1659), p. 9.
226. See Samuel Mintz, The Hunting of Leviathan (Cambridge, 1962), p. 127. This statement was quoted by Thomas Pierce from William Barlee, A Necessary Vindication, Ch. 3, p. 7, a work which, according to Mintz, is no longer extant. See Mintz, Hunting of Leviathan, p. 127. Thomas Pierce quoted Barlee in EAYTONTIMÜPOTMENOi:, or the Self-Revenger Exemplified in Mr William Barlee (London, 1658), p. 71.
227. See Samuel Mintz, The Hunting of Leviathan (Cambridge, 1962), p. 127. This statement was quoted by Thomas Pierce from William Barlee, A Necessary Vindication, Ch. 3, p. 7, a work which, according to Mintz, is no longer extant. See Mintz, Hunting of Leviathan, p. 127. Thomas Pierce quoted Barlee in EAYTONTIMÜPOTMENOi:, or the Self-Revenger Exemplified in Mr William Barlee (London, 1658), p. 71.
228. See Samuel Mintz, The Hunting of Leviathan (Cambridge, 1962), p. 127. This statement was quoted by Thomas Pierce from William Barlee, A Necessary Vindication, Ch. 3, p. 7, a work which, according to Mintz, is no longer extant. See Mintz, Hunting of Leviathan, p. 127. Thomas Pierce quoted Barlee in EAYTONTIMÜPOTMENOi:, or the Self-Revenger Exemplified in Mr William Barlee (London, 1658), p. 71.
229. See Samuel Mintz, The Hunting of Leviathan (Cambridge, 1962), p. 127. This statement was quoted by Thomas Pierce from William Barlee, A Necessary Vindication, Ch. 3, p. 7, a work which, according to Mintz, is no longer extant. See Mintz, Hunting of Leviathan, p. 127. Thomas Pierce quoted Barlee in EAYTONTIMÜPOTMENOi:, or the Self-Revenger Exemplified in Mr William Barlee (London, 1658), p. 71.
230. Pierce, Self-Revenger, p. 71.
231. Mintz, Hunting of Leviathan, p. 50.
232. Ibid., p. 126.
233. Ralph Cudworth, A Discourse of Liberty and Necessity, British Library, Add. 4979-82, 4979, fol. 61.
234. Ibid., Add. 4797, fol. 60.
235. Ibid.
236. Ibid.
237. Ibid.