Historical-critical complete edition of Osiander's works

Andreas Osiander (1496-8/1552) always stood in the shadow of the great reformers Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, and Calvin. It was only the ten-volume complete edition of his writings, sermons, expert opinions, and correspondence that revealed his multifaceted significance for the history of the Reformation. Active as a preacher for the Reformation in the imperial city of Nuremberg since 1522, he played a decisive role in shaping its fortunes until 1548. Unwilling to comply with the reversal of Reformation achievements enforced by the emperor and implemented by the city council, he left Nuremberg and spent the last years of his life until his death in 1552 as a professor at the young University of Königsberg. Among the circle of Luther and Melanchthon's students there, a dispute arose over his Christology and doctrine of justification, so that from then on his reputation among the Reformers remained damaged.

This edition documents Osiander's comprehensive contribution to the history of the Reformation in Nuremberg and his original and controversial positions in the theological debates of the 16th century. The church order for Brandenburg-Nuremberg, to which he made a significant contribution, became a model for many later church orders. His catechism sermons achieved high print runs and were also translated into English and even Icelandic. As an expert on medieval Jewish traditions, he defended the Jews against allegations of ritual murders and other suspicions.

 

Andreas Osiander by Georg Pencz, paper drawing, 1544, Rome

History of the research center

Die Arbeiten an der Ausgabe begannen im Jahr 1969 in der Reformationsgeschichtlichen Forschungsstelle unter der Leitung von Professor Dr. Gerhard Müller. Nach der Sammlung und Sichtung des gesamten zu edierenden Materials erschien in Zusammenarbeit mit Dr. Gottfried Seebaß und bearbeitet von einem wechselnden Team von Nachwuchswissenschaftlern 1975 der erste Band. Nach der Wahl von Professor Müller zum Bischof der Evangelisch-Lutherischen Landeskirche in Braunschweig ging die Leitung der Forschungsstelle an Professor Dr. Seebaß in Heidelberg. Anfangs von der DFG gefördert, wurde das Vorhaben 1984 von der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften übernommen. Es konnte im Jahre 1997 mit dem Erscheinen des zehnten Bandes abgeschlossen werden.

complete edition
Writings and letters

Aus technischen Gründen sind die Bände aktuell nicht online abrufbar.

  1. 1522 to March 1525 (PDF) (37 MB)  
  2. April 1525 to the end of 1527 (PDF) (36 MB)
  3. 1528 to April 1530 (PDF) (42 MB)
  4. May 1530 to the end of 1532 (PDF) (27 MB)
  5. 1533 to 1534 (PDF) (32 MB)
  6. 1535 to 1538 (PDF) (28 MB)
  7. 1539 to March 1543 (PDF) (110 MB)
  8. April 1543 to the end of 1548 (PDF) (40 MB)
  9. 1549 to August 1551 (PDF) (40 MB)
  10. September 1551 to October 1552, as well as posthumous works and addenda (PDF) (58 MB)
Chairman of the Commission

Retired Regional Bishop Prof. Dr. Gerhard Müller †

head of research

Prof. Dr. Gottfried Seebaß †