Adiaphoron, pl. -a (Gr. αδιάφορα "indifferent things"; German "Mitteldinge" "middle matters") refers to matters not regarded as essential to faith, and which might therefore be allowed in the church. In particular the Lutheran confessions of the sixteenth century speak of adiaphora as "church rites which are neither commanded nor forbidden in the Word of God." (The Formula of Concord, article 10, 1577). The lutheran Confessio Augustana (The Augsburg Confession, article 7 and 15) states that
"the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike."
External links
The Formula of Concord (http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/boc/fc/)
The Augsburg Confession (http://www.ctsfw.edu/etext/boc/ac/)
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The Gnesio - Lutherans, led by Nicholas von Amsdorf and Matthias Flacius, objected to the presuppositions and judgments concerning adiaphora that led the Saxon theologians (the "Philippists") to forge the Leipzig Interim.
First, genuine adiaphora is defined as ceremonies neither commanded nor forbidden in God's Word and not as such, or in and of themselves, divine worship or any part of it (Matt.
The second major point about genuine adiaphora is that the church does have the perfect right and authority to alter them so long as this is done without offense, in an orderly manner, so as to rebound to the church's edification (Rom.
The Adiaphorist controversy among Lutherans was an issue of the provisional scheme of compromise between religious parties, pending a general council, drawn up by Charles V., sanctioned at the diet of Augsburg, 15th of May 1548, and known as the Augsburg Interim.
This sanctioned jurisdiction of Catholic bishops, and observance of certain rites, while all were to accept justification by faith (relegating sola to the adiaphora).
Flacius, on the grounds that the imperial power was not the judge of adiaphora, and that the measure was a trick to bring back popery.
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