Law and Gospel: Philip Melanchthon’s Debate with John Agricola of Eisleben over Poenitentia

by Timothy J. Wengert

Publishers:

Paternoster; Baker

, 1997

Overview

Explore the relationship between poenitenia and law in Melancthon’s theology during his spat with another one of Luther’s disciples—John Agricola of Eisleben. “Questions over the nature of poenitentia and its relation to the law and to the sacrament of penance,” writes Timothy Wengert, “formed the basis of the first public controversy among Luther’s students and profoundly shaped later Lutheranism by making the distinction between law and gospel one of its distinguishing characteristics.”

Product Details

• Title: Law and Gospel: Philip Melanchthon’s Debate with John Agricola of Eisleben over Poenitentia
• Author: Timothy J. Wengert
• Series: Texts and Studies in Reformation and Post-Reformation Thought
• Publishers: Paternoster, Baker
• Print Publication Date: 1997
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Repentance › Christianity--History of doctrines; Law and gospel › History of doctrines; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560; Agricola, Johann, 1494?-1566
• ISBNs: 9781441222770, 0801021588, 9780801021589, 1441222774
• Resource ID: LLS:LAWANDGOSPEL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:05:54Z

About Timothy J. Wengert

Timothy Wengert, teaches and does research in Reformation History and the Lutheran Confessions. In 1981 he discovered and published notes on two of Martin Luther’s sermons from 1520. His dissertation, published by Librairie Droz in Geneva Switzerland, investigates Philip Melanchthon’s interpretation of John’s Gospel. While a representative for the ELCA on the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of Churches, he co-edited a book for Eerdmans publishing house on the role of church history in ecumenism, Telling the Churches’ Stories. In 2000 a new English edition of The Book of Concord appeared edited jointly by Robert Kolb and Timothy Wengert (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Publishers). His translation of Luther’s Small Catechism from that volume is used widely throughout the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He has written two other books on Philip Melanchthon: Human Freedom, Christian Righteousness (Oxford University Press) focuses on Melanchthon’s relation to Erasmus. Law and Gospel (Baker Books) concentrates on his relation to John Agricola and the third use of the law. In 1997, for the 500th anniversary of Melanchthon’s birth, he edited a book for Sheffield Academic Press entitled Philip Melanchthon (1497-1560) and the Commentary. In February 2000, the city of Bretten, Germany (Melanchthon’s birth place) awarded him Melanchthon Prize for contributions to the field of Reformation scholarship, especially for his book on Melanchthon and Erasmus.