Episode 75: Marriage of Priests and Luther’s Family Life

October 31, 2026 James Preus

Reformation Bible Study 2026

Augsburg Confession: Article XXIII

The Marriage of Priests

[1] Complaints about unchaste priests are common. [2] Platina writes that it is for this reason that Pope Pius is reported to have said that although there are reasons why marriage was taken away from priests, there are far more important reasons why it should be given back. [3] Since our priests wanted to avoid these open scandals, they married wives and taught that it was lawful for them to enter into marriage. [4] First, because Paul says, “Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife” and “It is better to marry than to be aflame with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9b).

[5] Second, Christ says, “Not everyone can receive this saying” (Matthew 19:11), where He teaches that not everyone is able to lead a single life. God created human beings for procreation (Genesis 1:28). [6] It is not within a person’s power, without God giving a unique gift, to change this creation. ‹For it is clear, as many have confessed, that no good, honest, chaste life, no Christian, sincere, upright conduct has resulted from the attempt to lead a single life. Instead, a horrible, fearful unrest and torment of conscience has been felt by many until the end.› [7] Therefore, those who are not able to lead a single life ought to marry. [8] No human law, no vow, can destroy God’s commandment and ordinance. [9] For these reasons the priests teach that it is lawful for them to marry wives.

[10] It is clear that in the Ancient Church priests were married men. [11] For Paul says, “An overseer must be the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). [12] Four hundred years ago in Germany, for the first time, priests were violently forced to lead a single life. They offered such resistance that when the Archbishop of Mainz was about to publish the pope’s decree about celibacy, he was almost killed in a riot by enraged priests. [13] This matter was handled so harshly that not only was marriage forbidden in the future, but existing marriages were torn apart, contrary to all laws, both divine and human. This was even contrary to canon law itself, as made by not only popes, but also by the most celebrated synods.

[14] Seeing that man’s nature is gradually growing weaker as the world grows older, it is good to be on guard to make sure no more vices work their way into Germany.

[15] Furthermore, God ordained marriage to be a help against human weakness. [16] Canon law itself says that the old rigor ought to be relaxed now and then, in these latter times, because of human weakness. We wish this would also be done in this matter. [17] We expect that at some point churches will lack pastors if marriage continues to be forbidden.

[18] While God’s commandment is in force, and the custom of the Church is well known, impure celibacy will cause many scandals, adulteries, and other crimes that deserve punishment from just rulers. In light of all this, it is incredibly cruel that the marriage of priests is forbidden. [19] God has commanded that marriage be honored. [20] Marriage is most highly honored in the laws of all well-ordered commonwealths, even among the heathen. [21] But now men, even priests, are cruelly put to death, contrary to the intent of canon law, for no other reason than that they are married. [22] Paul, in 1 Timothy 4, says that a doctrine of demons forbids marriage (vv. 1–3). [23] This is clearly seen by how laws against marriage are enforced with such penalties.

[24] Since no human law can destroy God’s command, neither can it be done by any vow. [25] So Cyprian advises women who do not keep the promise they made to remain chaste, that they should marry. He says (Book I, Epistle XI), “If they are unwilling or unable to persevere, it is better for them to marry than to fall into the fire by their lusts. They should certainly give no offense to their brothers and sisters.” [26] And even canon law shows some leniency toward those who have taken vows before the proper age, as has been the case up to this point.

Source: https://bookofconcord.cph.org/en/augsburg-confession/abuses/article_xxiii/

Biblical arguments for the marriage of priests

St. Peter and the other apostles were married. Matthew 8:14:And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
- 1 Corinthians 9:5: Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
Scripture gives instruction on the marriage of bishops. 1 Timothy 3:2, 4-5: Therefore an overseermust be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, … ⁴He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, ⁵for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?
Jesus and St. Paul warn because of the weakness of the sinful flesh, ordinarily, men should get married. Matthew 19:10-12: ¹⁰The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” ¹¹But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. ¹²For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:1-5: 7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” ²But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. ³The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
It is the doctrine of demons to forbid marriage. 1 Timothy 4:1-3: 4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, ²through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, ³who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Historical arguments for the marriage of priests

Marriage of priests was permitted until relatively recently. And when marriage was forbidden priests, many were forced to divorce their wives, which caused rioting and murder.

Practical reasons for priests to marry

Helps keep priests out of shameful sin.
Priests may learn to minister to young and women and how to manage a “household.”
Pastors may set an example to the flock in raising their children in the fear and instruction of the Lord.

Luther’s homelife.

Martin Luther encouraged priests to get married from early on in the reformation.
Luther married Katherine Von Bora on June 13, 1525. God blessed them with six children.
- Hans (June 7, 1526), Elizabeth (December 10, 1527), Magdalene (May 4, 1529), Martin (November 9, 1531), Paul (January 29, 1533), and Margaret (December 17, 1534). Elizabeth died as an infant in August 1528. Magdalene died in her early teens in 1542.
Excerpts from C. P. Krauth’s The Conservative Reformation. pages 39-40 and 36-37.