the mystical theology of valentin weigel - DataSpace at Princeton ...

Luther writes that Herod deceived the priests, who are therefore not complicit in his plot
to kill Christ, but rather are themselves victims of Herod’s wickedness.
Christ chooses not to intervene, according to Weigel, because he is neither an Old
Testament religious leader like Moses (“Priester nach Art deß Alten Testaments”), nor a
political leader like Herod (“nicht ein Welt König, nicht ein Herr der zeitlichen
Güter”). 374 Rather, the flight from Egypt is a paradigmatic example of the New
Testament model for Christian behaviour (“die Art deß Newen Testaments”). 375 The
family is wholly reliant on angelic guidance (Matthew 2: 13) in deciding on a course of
action. Moreover, the newborn Jesus cannot even walk, and is utterly dependent on others
for his safety, and thus illustrates the complete quiescence of the will that should
characterize a true Christian. Weigel turns the story of Jesus’ escape from the murderous
non-Christian king into a lesson about how Christ’s followers must not use violence
against fellow Christians.
For Weigel, this episode demonstrates that the Holy Family is not only materially
poor, but also lacks what he calls “Eigenthumb deß willens.” 376 Evasion, slipping away
quietly at night, is the right thing for a Christian to do, and exemplifies the posture of the
true believer, which Weigel again calls Gelassenheit. He describes the flight as an
“Eigenschafft deß Glaubens Christi oder seines Evangelij”, which is to be “ihme selber
entnommen...und Gotte gelassen” (to be left to God or given over to God). 377 Joseph and
Mary have faith, and obey God’s instructions to flee without grumbling (“ohne
374 Valentin Weigel, Postille, 73.
375 Ibid.
376 Ibid.
377 Ibid, 75.
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