German Theology

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...[little work], The word fragment "cula" likely belongs to "opuscula" (little work) or "praefatiuncula" (little preface), referring to the text at hand. that he was one of those whom they call the Teutonic Lords Members of the Teutonic Order, a medieval military and religious order of German knights. (the French call them the Knights of Rhodes original: "Equites Rhodios". These are the Knights Hospitaller, who were based in Rhodes at the time this was written.), and that he was also a priest and a warden in the house of the Teutonic Order at Frankfurt.

The Theme.

The theme original: "Argumentum" is about the New Man, or the new creature. For it delivers the method by which a human may be restored to wholeness and return to God, from whom he fell; this is indeed the true and genuine theology. The author uses a clever pun here: "vera germanaque theologia" means both "true and genuine theology" and "true German theology," referencing the book's title, Theologia Germanica. This, however, is the method: Since man perished by following his own will, it is necessary—if he wishes to be restored—that he depart from his own will and follow the will of God. This is because the remedies for opposites are themselves opposites, A classic philosophical and medical principle: contraria contrariis curantur (opposites are cured by opposites). and the will of man is contrary to the will of God; truly, no one can serve two contrary masters. But just as a man can blind or kill himself, yet cannot likewise enlighten himself or bring himself back to life, so Adam, by following his own will, destroyed himself and furthermore his entire lineage...