Christian Cyclopedia

(from Lat. interim, “meanwhile”). Provisional agreement in religious matters until the next ch. council.

I. Augsburg Interim (June 30, 1548). Charles* V proposed a temporary armistice bet. RCs and Luths. and in February 1548 appointed a commission including J.v. Pflug,* M. Helding* (suffragan bp. Mainz 1537), and J. Agricola* to draft the terms. The draft, rev. by some Sp. monks, consisted of 26 articles: (1–2) Man before and after the fall; (3) Redemption; (4–6) Justification; (7) Love and good works; (8) Forgiveness of sins; (9–12) The church; (13) Bishops; (14–21) The sacraments; (22) Sacrifice of the mass; (23) Saints; (24) Commemoration of the dead; (25) Communion at mass; (26) Ceremonies of sacraments. Joachim II Hektor of Brandenburg (see Joachim, 2) and Frederick* II of the Palatinate approved; Ulrich of Württemberg (1487–1550) approved under pressure; Philip* of Hesse approved in hope of gaining release from prison thereby; John* Frederick of Saxony rejected it. Maurice* of Saxony and others were dissatisfied but did not protest. The emp. succeeded in enforcing the Interim in parts of S Ger., where many pastors, including J. Brenz* and M. Bucer,* were driven out. But there was vehement and successful opposition to it in the Palatinate, Brandenburg, Hesse, Saxony, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, and N Ger. cities led by Magdeburg. See also Adiaphoristic Controversies.

II. Leipzig* Interim. After his return from Augsburg, Maurice of Saxony consulted with his theologians and councillors, including C. Cruciger the Elder (see Cruciger, 1), J. v. Pflug, P. Melanchthon,* Johann VIII von Maltitz (bp. Meissen 1537–1549), George* III of Anhalt, J. Forster,* and P. Eber.* Proposals drafted and modified at inconclusive meetings in August at Pegau and October at Torgau were further considered in November at Altzella, near Nossen, Saxony, at a meeting attended also by J. Bugenhagen,* G. Major,* J. Camerarius,* H. Weller,* and A. Lauterbach*; an interim was drawn up which compromised the doctrine of justification and some other points, and which regarded as adiaphora* such things as extreme unction, confirmation, lights, vestments, images, fasts, and festivals. Maurice of Saxony and Joachim II of Brandenburg came to an agreement in December on the points they would be willing to accept and follow. Saxony accepted the Altzella terms at Leipzig December 1548 (hence the name Leipzig Interim); the bps. of Naumburg and Meissen dissented. The Brandenburg diet met January 1549.

See also Synergistic Controversy.

III. Regensburg (Ratisbon) Interim. See Regensburg Conference.

See also Lutheran Confessions, C 1.