Unlike most theologians of his age, Martin Bucer proved to be farsighted with respect to European affairs: In addition to his contacts within Alsace and Germany he established relations with almost every European country. It was his ecumenical attitude that always led him to mediate between the parties in the religious battles of his time. His deep commitment to the goal of reaching agreement can be traced in all his activities, works and letters. Since the first editor, Jean Rott (Strasbourg), died in 1998, Bucer's correspondence has been edited in Erlangen. This academic edition of source material provides future research with a broad basis for significant aspects of Reformation history about which very little is known. Volume V covers the period from September 1530 to May 1531. It therefore mainly contains information about Bucer's diplomatic journey after the Augsburg Diet, his correspondence with the Valdesian synod of Mérindol, his attempts to mediate between Luther and Zwingli with the help of his Konkordienschrift and to integrate the Swiss party in the Schmalcaldic confederation.

Unlike most theologians of his age, Martin Bucer proved to be farsighted with respect to European affairs: In addition to his contacts within Alsace and Germany he established relations with almost every European country. It was his ecumenical attitude that always led him to mediate between the parties in the religious battles of his time. His deep commitment to the goal of reaching agreement can be traced in all his activities, works and letters.Since the first editor, Jean Rott (Strasbourg), died in 1998, Bucers correspondence has been edited in Erlangen. This academic edition of source material provides future research with a broad basis for significant aspects of Reformation history about which very little is known. Volume V covers the period from September 1530 to May 1531. It therefore mainly contains information about Bucers diplomatic journey after the Augsburg Diet, his correspondence with the Valdesian synod of Mérindol, his attempts to mediate between Luther and Zwingli with the help of his Konkordienschrift and to integrate the Swiss party in the Schmalcaldic confederation.

Der Band bietet 94 Briefe aus der Korrespondenz Bucers von Januar bis Juli 1534. Hier setzt sich die internationale Perspektive fort, die seit Mitte 1533 zu beobachten ist. Die evangelischen Korrespondenten betrachten die europapolitische Bündnispolitik skeptisch: Bucer rechnet im Januar 1534 damit, dass Papst Clemens VI. den englischen König Heinrich VIII. an sich binden wird, während die evangelischen Fürsten im Reich noch versuchen, mit Heinrich ein Bündnis zu schließen. Anfang Februar schätzt Bucer den französischen König milder ein, mit Sorge sieht er jedoch die Bemühungen Philipps von Hessen um Franz I. Im Blick auf die Schweiz versucht Bucer in Schaffhausen auch 1534 im Abendmahlsstreit der Ortsprediger zu vermitteln. Die Korrespondenz mit den Züricher Kollegen kreist um die innerevangelische Auseinandersetzung um die Sakramentstheologie und in diesem Zusammenhang die Person Luthers. Seit dem achttägigen Besuch Bucers bei den Blarers in Konstanz im April 1533 gewinnt der Plan Gestalt, eine Ausbildungsstätte für den theologischen Nachwuchs in Straßburg zu errichten. Hinsichtlich der Einführung der Reformation in Württemberg skizziert Bucer in einem Schreiben an Philipp von Hessen und Ulrich von Württemberg sein Konzept, in dessen Zentrum die friedliche Koexistenz der evangelischen Positionen steht. Seltene Einblicke gewährt die Korrespondenz in Bucers Familienleben.

During the last forty years there has been a remarkable resurgence in interest by 16th-century historians in the Strasbourg Reformer, Martin Bucer (1491-1551). The components and originality of his thoughts and his actions, as well as the reality of his ideas are emerging more and more. This is largely due to the new edition of his works undertaken by an international committee, established in 1952. This edition is divided into three sections: Opera Latina (of which 5 volumes have appeared since 1953: vols. 1-3, 15 and 15 bis); Deutsche Schriften (10 volumes since 1960: vols. 1-6, 3, 7 and 17); Correspondance (vol. 1, 1979). The present second volume of the Correspondance (1524-1526) essentially covers five themes: 1) the controversies with the Roman church, 2) the evangelical propaganda, especially in the Roman speaking countries, 3) the sacramentarian dispute and the search for reconciliation, 4) the Peasant war and 5) the beginning of the anabaptist crisis.