On Interpreting Sacred Scripture and Method of Theological Study
Overview
Johann Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. His Loci Theologici are regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology. They interact with the writings of the Church Fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day.
In his Loci, Gerhard addresses the doctrines of the Lutheran faith with skill and precision. His series remains a classic of Lutheran theology and offers contemporary church workers and researchers a wealth of material on the distinctive of Lutheran doctrine.
The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard’s famous Loci Theologici. The series, which will total 17 volumes, will be among the most thorough and comprehensive presentations of Lutheran theology in the English language.
In On Interpreting Sacred Scripture, Gerhard emphasizes the authority of Scripture as the Word of God; the rule of faith as essential for right interpretation; proper use of allegory, dogmatic (doctrinal) exegesis, and human reason in interpretation; reconciliation of apparent disagreements; and the three requirements for interpretation: prayer, meditation, and testing. The Method gives readers not just a list of what to study but also practical guidelines on how to study the Word of God.
This volume contains:
- On Sacred Scripture
- On Interpreting Sacred Scripture
- Method of Theological Study
This title is a part of the Theological Commonplaces series by Johann Gerhard. To learn more or to order another title from this collection, please click here.
Key Features
- Presents a Lutheran perspective on issues not commonly addressed by Lutheran theologians
- Unpacks Lutheran biblical interpretation in the context of systematic theology
- Provides a fresh translation for modern readers
Contents
- On the canonical and apocryphal books
- On the authority of Sacred Scripture
- On the perfection of Sacred Scripture
- On traditions
- On the perspicuity of Sacred Scripture
- On the norm of controversies
- On the judge of controversies
- Reading Scripture belongs to the laity
- On translations of Scripture
- On the authentic edition of Scripture
- A summary of this treatise
- The Papists’ position on interpreting Scripture
- An examination of the Papists’ position
- An explanation of our position on interpreting Scripture
- On the means of interpretation that the Papists propose
- What the Papists set forth against our means
- On the various senses of Scripture
- On allegory
- On the inferences deduced from the rule of faith
- A clarification of the inferences deduced from the rule of faith through the words of the Holy Supper
- One must not depart from the rule of faith because something is absurd to human reason
- On reconciling apparent contrarities
- On the remedies for obscurity that arise from things or wording
- On the remedies for obscurity that arises from context
- On the three general requirements for the means of interpretation to be fruitful
- On the first year of theological study
- On the second year of theological study
- On the third year of theological study
- On the fourth year of theological study
- On the fifth year of theological study
On Sacred Scripture
On Interpreting Sacred Scripture
Method of Theological Study
Product Details
- Title: On Interpreting Sacred Scripture and Method of Theological Study
- Author: Johann Gerhard
- Editor: Benjamin T. G. Mayes
- Translator: Joshua J. Hayes
- Series: Theological Commonplaces
- Publisher: Concordia
- Publication Date: 2017
- Pages: 315
- Christian Group: Lutheran
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Topic: Scripture, Biblical Interpretation