Page "Nicolaus von Amsdorf" Paragraph 5

After the death of Philip of the Palatinate, bishop of Naumburg-Zeitz, he was installed there on 20 January 1542, though in opposition to the chapter, by the Prince-elector of Saxony and Luther.

His position was a painful one, and he longed to get back to Magdeburg, but was persuaded by Luther to stay.

After Luther's death ( 1546 ) and the Battle of Mühlberg ( 1547 ) he had to yield to his rival, Julius von Pflug, and retire to the protection of the young duke of Weimar.

Here he took part in founding Jena University ( 1548 ); opposed the " Augsburg Interim " ( 1548 ); superintended the publication of the Jena edition of Luther's works ; and debated on the freedom of the will, original sin, and, more noticeably, on the Christian value of good works, in regard to which he held that they were not only useless, but prejudicial.

He urged the separation of the High Lutheran party from Melanchthon ( 1557 ), got the Saxon dukes to oppose the Frankfurt Recess ( 1558 ) and continued to fight for the purity of Lutheran doctrine.