Luther: Doctors of Theology

I came across a version of this quote below by Martin Luther today in my reading of Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics I.1, 18-19.  Barth uses this quote to support the idea that an authentic theologian of the Church ought to be a regenerated Christian, not merely a “mystical” (or “spiritual” in today’s terms) theologian.

“I know of nothing else to do than to pray humbly to God to give us such real Doctors of Theology as we have in mind.  Pope, Emperor, and universities may make Doctors of Arts, of Medicine, of Laws, of the Sentences; but be assured that no man can make a Doctor of Holy Scripture except the Holy Spirit in heaven.  As Christ says in John 6: ‘They must all be taught by God himself.’  Now the Holy Spirit does not ask for red caps or brown, or any other pomp.  Nor does he ask whether a person is young or old, lay or cleric, monk or secular, virgin or married.  In fact, in ancient times he actually spoke through a donkey against the prophet who was riding it.  Would to God that we were worthy to have such Doctors given to us….”

–Martin Luther, Address to the German Nobility (1520 AD).