Definition

Adiaphora (Gk. "indifferent things") refers to matters not essential to salvation, or those falling outside of the structure of commandments and prohibitions of Scripture. Saint Paul urged Christians to recognize some matters in this way (for example, what to eat or not to eat) for the sake of maintaining the community, and not providing an obstacle to those of weak faith. Individual churches may decide whether or not a matter of adiaphora is an acceptable practice.

Significance

Adiaphorist Controversy: Under the Leipzig Interim of 1548, moderate Protestants, led by Philip Melanchthon, held certain Roman Catholic practices (confirmation, fasting, veneration of saints) as tolerable for the sake of church unity; they were opposed by the Gnesio-Lutherans, led by Matthias Flacius.
Debates over 'adiaphora' can involve the related doctrine of subsidiarity, the principle that matters in the Church should be decided as close to the local level as possible. The clearer it is that something is "indifferent" in terms of the Church's central doctrine and ethics, the closer to the local level it can be decided; while the clearer it is that an issue is central, the wider must be the circle of consultation. People of faith all over the world are revisiting the idea of adiaphora as ethical issues of sexuality, cloning, stem cell research and many other scientific and social questions are debated in the contemporary church.

Recent Articles and Books

1. Montrover, Nathan. "Considering Contexts: Understanding Article X of the Formula of Concord Then and Now," Currents in Theology and Mission, 32 no. 2 Ap 2005, pp. 124-127. Discusses opposition to the recent Concordat between the ELCA and the ECUSA, based on Article X, which prohibits "forcing an adiaphoron [in this case, apostolic succession] onto the church." Argues that Article X was originally intended to prevent persecution of the new Protestant faith by secular authorities. Contends that Article X does not apply in situations where force is not threatened. In peaceful considerations of doctrine and practice, adiaphora may be accepted.
2. Verkamp, Bernard J. "Limits upon adiaphoristic freedom : Luther and Melanchthon," in Theological Studies, 36 Mr 1975, p 52-76. The precise locus of the adiaphoristic freedom championed by Luther and Melanchton is established by demonstrating the two Wittenberg Reformers did not teach that "outside faith everything is indifferent," but defined adiaphora simply as those things "neither commanded, nor forbidden" by Scripture. The article then investigates how Luther and Melanchthon strove, in the face of legalistic and antinomian tendencies, to keep the exercise of liberty within the boundaries of the inner law of love.

Related Terms

Appropriation (Trinity), Communion: open vs. closed, Consubstantiation (Eucharist).