A Roman Catholic Bishop of Merseburg, he remained until his death a staunch opponent of Martin Luther.
Despite his spiritual office, Adolph participated in the government of his principality for several years; only in 1508 did he formally renounce his rights along with his brother Magnus.
Although he fundamentally accepted the justification by faith doctrine proclaimed by Luther, he rejected all intervention in the existing Church order.
In 1523 Adolph petitioned Duke George of Saxony for the expulsion of the Lutheran minister Sebastian Fröschel from Leipzig.
He died in March the following year while en route to Leipzig to encourage his nephew, Prince George, to still more rigorous anti-Protestant measures.