The Theology of Martin Luther

by Paul Althaus

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 1966

Overview

The Theology of Martin Luther is a comprehensive and systematic survey of Martin Luther’s entire thought by an internationally recognized authority in the field of Reformation research. The main theological questions which engaged the Reformer’s attention are set forth in clear and simple fashion, along with a host of quotations from this own writings to illumine the presentation. Scholars and laypersons alike will appreciate the more than a thousand instances in which the author allows Luther to speak forcefully and directly for himself.

In the Logos edition of The Theology of Martin Luther, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with Passage Guides, Word Studies, and a wealth of other tools from Logos, you can delve into God’s Word like never before!

Key Features

• Note by the translator
• Luther’s interpretation of Scripture
• Bibliographical references and index

Contents

Top Highlights

“We Christians, unlike the men of the Old Testament, are no longer directed to a geographical location. What Jerusalem and the temple once were for them, Christ now is for us. His humanity is the place to which God summons us. Christ alone is the sanctuary and the mercy seat of the New Testament. Only here is God now present with men; and it is here that we must speak with him, for he will hear us only here. If we seek God outside of Christ, we will not find him even if we look for him in heaven.” (Page 22)

“‘Faith and God belong together.’⁸ They are correlated in two ways. First, true faith can never have any other object than God, for only God can be unconditionally trusted.⁹ Secondly, only that faith which unconditionally trusts God really treats him as God. Faith is this relationship to God; and God is the One in whom we can and must believe. If we want to express what faith is, we must speak about God. And if we want to say who God is, we must speak of faith.” (Page 45)

“God can be properly known only in terms of his relationship to man; and man can be properly known only in terms of his relationship to God.” (Page 9)

“This theology of the cross also determines Luther’s view of the church. The true church of Christ cannot be identified with the historical institution which calls itself the church and with its errors, sins, divisions, and heresies. Rather the true church is hidden under this empirical reality.” (Page 32)

“‘It is impossible for a person not to be puffed up by his good works unless he has first been deflated and destroyed by suffering and evil until he knows that he is worthless and that his works are not his but God’s.’” (Page 29)

Praise for the Print Edition

It is likely to remain a standard source book for American theologians for some time to come.

—Dialog

Product Details

• Title: The Theology of Martin Luther
• Author: Paul Althaus
• Translator: Robert C. Schultz
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress
• Publication Date: 1966
• Pages: 464

About Paul Althaus

Paul Althaus (4 February 1888-18 May 1966) was a German Lutheran theologian, son of Adolf Paul Johannes Althaus. He was born in Obershagen in the Province of Hanover, and he died in Erlangen. He held various pastorates from 1914 to 1925, when he was appointed associate professor of practical and systematic theology at the University of Göttingen, becoming full professor two years later. Althaus was moderately critical of Lutheran Orthodoxy and evangelical-leaning Neo-Lutheranism.