Translating the Augsburg Confession Part XXXVI (Article II.ii)

II. De Coniugio Sacerdotum. (ii.)

Constat etiam in ecclesia veteri sacerdotes[1] fuisse maritos. Nam et Paulus ait 1 Tim. 3, 2, episcopum[2] eligendum esse, qui sit maritus. Et in Germania primum ante annos quadringentos[3] sacerdotes vi coacti sunt ad coelibatum, qui quidem adeo adversati sunt, ut[4] archiepiscopus Moguntinus, publicaturus[5] edictum Romani pontificis de ea re, paene ab iratis sacerdotibus per tumultum oppressus sit. Et res gesta est tam inciviliter, ut[6] non solum in posterum coniugia prohiberentur, sed etiam praesentia, contra omnia iura divina et humana, contra ipsos etiam canones, factos non solum a pontificibus, sed a laudatissimis synodis, distraherentur.

Et quum senescente mundo paulatim natura humana fiat imbecillior, convenit prospicere, ne[7] plura vitia serpant in Germaniam. Porro Deus instituit coniugium, ut[8] esset remedium humanae infirmitatis. Ipsi canones veterem rigorem[9] interdum posterioribus temporibus propter imbecillitatem hominum laxandum esse dicunt, quod[10] optandum est, ut[11] fiat et in hoc negotio. Ac videntur ecclesiis[12] aliquando defuturi pastores, si diutius prohibeatur coniugium.

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[1] Sacerdotes esse maritos: an indirect statement

[2] Episcopum…maritus: the citation from Paul is an indirect statement where episcopum is the accusative subject and eligendum esse, the passive periphrastic, is the infinitive main verb: a bishop must be chosen…

[3] Ante quadringentos: four hundred years ago

[4] Ut…sit: a result clause

[5] Publicaturus: a future active participle modifying archiepiscopus

[6] Ut…distraherentur: a result clause

[7] Ne…Germaniam: a negative purpose clause

[8] Ut…infirmitatis: a purpose clause

[9] Veterem…esse: an indirect statement where rigorem is the accusative subject and laxandum esse, the passive periphrastic, is the infinitive main verb: the old rigor must be relaxed…

[10] Quod optandum est: which must be wished:

[11] Ut…negotio: an indirect command: that it happens in this matter.

[12] Ecclesiis: pastores: an indirect statement where ecclesiis is an ablative of respect: that at length there will be a shortage of pastors for the churches

Also it is well known in the ancient church that priests were married. For Paul also says in 1 Tim 3, 2 that a bishop must be chosen who is married. And in Germany  400 years ago priests first were forced to celibacy who indeed were so opposed that the Archbishop of Mentz, about to publish the Roman Pontiff’s edict regarding the matter, nearly was crushed by angry priests in the tumult. And the matter was handled so discourteously that not only were  marriages in the future prohibited but even those present ones were torn apart contrary to all divine and human laws, contrary even to the very canons which had been made by not only the popes but also the most famous councils. 

And because human nature is becoming weaker as the world decays, it is appropriate to watch out lest more vices creep in. Formerly God instituted marriage so that it was a remedy of human weakness. The canons themselves say that sometimes the old rigor must be relaxed in future times on account of the feebleness of men; it must be desired so that it happens also in this trouble. If marriage is prohibited longer, at length a shortage of pastors may be seen in the churches.

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