Unlike most theologians of his age, Martin Bucer had a wide range of vision with respect to European affairs: In addition to his contacts within Alsace and Germany, he established relations with almost every country on the Continent. It was his ecumenical attitude that always led him to mediate between the parties in the religious battles of his time. His deep commitment and his objective to reach an agreement can be traced in all his activities, works and letters. As Bucer did not found a religious denomination himself, his theological and historical importance has been underestimated for a long time. In addition his handwriting is hard to decipher, which makes it difficult to deal with his works, especially with his letters. Bucer's letters (BCor) have been published in chronological order as part of the "Opera omnia" since 1979 (Leiden, Brill, I: 1979; II: 1989; III: 1995; IV: 2000). Since the editor, Jean Rott (Strasbourg), died Bucer's correspondence has been edited in Erlangen. This academic edition of source material will provide future research with a broad basis for significant aspects of Reformation history about which very little is known.

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, 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 VII covers the period from October 1531 to March 1532.

Wegen des großen Anteils an Einzelkorrespondenten in Bucers Briefwechsel von September 1532 bis Juni 1533 versammelt dieser Band eine Vielzahl von Anliegen. Bucer soll etwa bei Stellenbesetzungen vermitteln, für säumige Schuldner eintreten, seine exegetischen Werke zusenden, einen Trostbrief schreiben, zur Visitation kommen, mittellosen Autoren zum Druck ihrer Bücher verhelfen oder schlicht Fürbitte einlegen. Trotz dieser vielfältigen Inanspruchnahmen verliert Bucer die Hauptthemen der vorausgehenden Korrespondenz nicht aus den Augen: die Auseinandersetzung mit den Dissenters und die Vermittlung im Abendmahlsstreit. Nachdem sein Werben um eine Verständigung mit Luther bei den Schweizern Irritationen hervorgerufen hat, bereist Bucer von Anfang April bis Mitte/Ende Mai 1533 die Schweiz, um im persönlichen Gespräch mit den Baslern, Zürichern und Bernern die Wogen zu glätten. Wenn er sie auch nicht davon überzeugen kann, dass sie in der Sache mit Luther übereinstimmen, so gelingt es Bucer doch, ein Einvernehmen der Schweizer mit seiner Position herzustellen.

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.