The Magdeburg Centuries (1559–74) constituted the first attempt at a comprehensive Lutheran church history. Written as a collaborative project and starting its account in the Apostolic age, the Centuries aimed also to describe the theological changes of their own century, although the printed version extended only to the thirteenth century. In its development, the project was closely connected to the so‐called Chancery of God, a propaganda office of strict Lutheran theologians in Magdeburg which worked against the emperor, the Catholic Church and confessional opponents in Wittenberg. Written during a time of political threats, the work was driven by apocalyptic thinking and a certain scepticism about authorities. The search for historical testimonies of religious truth, the critical methods of a humanist education, the deconstruction of myths, and the writing for specific confessional goals intermingled and formed the compilation of excerpts from historical sources. The authors of the Magdeburg Centuries used these different techniques according to their needs.
Dies ist der 17. Band des Briefwechsels Heinrich Bullingers seit 1973. Das Werk ist bekannt, und dennoch möchte man ausrufen: Was für eine reiche Quelle wird hier auf vorbildliche Art für die Wissenschaft erschlossen! Der Band, der 547 Seiten umfasst, enthält 152 Briefe, von denen 97 bisher ungedruckt und 38 nur in Auszügen bekannt waren. 60 dieser Briefe sind auf Deutsch verfasst, von Bullingers 37 erhaltenen Schreiben ist die Hälfte auf Deutsch. Das ist ein
EinführungDas inhaltliche Verhältnis der Geschichtsschreibung zu ihrem Gegenstand, der Vergangenheit als einer Wirklichkeit, war stets in der Hinsicht prekär, dass Histo-Brought to you by | Stockholms Universitet Authenticated Download Date | 7/23/15 12:33 AM REZIPIEREN UND TRADIEREN I 299
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