What was the Diet of Worms?

Answer

Throughout the Middle Ages in the Holy Roman Empire, a “diet” was an assembly of governmental and/or religious leaders convened to address a political or religious issue. The Diet of Worms took place in 1521 in Worms (pronounced “Vermz”), Germany, to deliberate on the teachings of Martin Luther. In 1517, Martin Luther had affixed the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. In the four years between the posting of the 95 Theses and the Diet of Worms, the Protestant Reformation gained momentum.

In 1520, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull against Martin Luther, branding him a heretic. Consequently, Emperor Charles V summoned the Diet of Worms as a tribunal and commanded Luther to appear and either affirm or retract his teachings. Johann Eck, representing the Emperor, questioned Martin Luther about his readiness to renounce his heresies. Following a one-day recess, Martin Luther replied, “Unless I am persuaded by the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not rely solely on the pope or councils, as they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have cited, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not retract anything, for it is neither safe nor right to act against conscience. May God help me. Amen.”

Due to Luther’s refusal to retract, the Diet of Worms issued the Edict of Worms, branding Luther a heretic and prohibiting the reading of his works. The edict declared Luther an outlaw, with the expectation that he would be apprehended, punished, and possibly executed. However, before his arrest, Luther was secretly taken away by Prince Frederick III of Saxony and sheltered in Wartburg Castle. There, Luther continued his writings and commenced his translation.

During the translation of the Bible into German.

While Martin Luther was in seclusion at Wartburg Castle, the Lutheran Church gained popularity in Germany. Therefore, even after Luther departed from the safety of the castle, the Edict of Worms was never implemented against him, and he was never apprehended. Luther’s statement that he would not retract unless persuaded by the evidence of the Scriptures encapsulates the essence of the Protestant Reformation and illustrates the significance the Bible should hold in our lives.