Karlstadt, Andreas Bodenstein von

(c.1477–1541)

   Theologian.

   Karlstadt was born in Bavaria and attended the Universities of Erfurt, Cologne and Wittenberg. He settled in Wittenberg and initially opposed the stand of Martin luther, but, after studying the teachings of augustine, he became a determined Reformer. In 1519 he debated against Johann eck and he later described the experience in his tract Against the Dumb Ass and Stupid Little Doctor Eck. He rapidly became more radical than Luther in his views. After moving to Orlamünde, he took to wearing peasant’s dress and demanding social equality. He insisted that Communion must be offered in both kinds, that music should have no place in services and that the direct revelation of the Holy Spirit was much to be preferred over theological reasoning. He is remembered as the celebrator of the first Protestant Communion service (in 1521).

   E.G. Rupp, ‘Andrew Karlstadt and Reformation Puritanism’, Journal of Theological Studies, x (1959);

   R.J. Sider, Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt: The Development of his Thought (1974).