T&T Clark Lutheran Studies Collection (3 vols.)

“Unwilling to neutralize the core Lutheran teaching that God is in the business of killing off sinners just so that new beings might rise in faith, Paulson holds the wider Lutheran tradition accountable to Luther’s own unique distinction of the law as accusation and the gospel as promise. Here we learn much of the Lutheran tradition—Paulson himself writes in the grand style of theological loci, approaching doctrine as outlined from Paul’s argument in Romans. Paulson’s approach to faith has an inerasable edge—if theology is to avoid being pointless, it must be for proclamation. Here is a theology beholden to God’s word that does what it says and says what it does—finally remaking humanity out of the nothingness of sin and death.

—Mark Mattes, professor of religion and philosophy, Grand View University

Martin Luther did not so much set out to reform the church as he did to reform preaching. Steven Paulson gets to the heart of Lutheranism—not as a denomination nor as a movement—but as the preaching of Christ crucified for the justification of sinners. Tracing the trajectory of Luther’s preaching in subsequent centuries, noting how it bumps up against attempts to domesticate its assertiveness or ground its doctrine according to one worldview or another, Paulson is persistent in following Luther’s own evangelical logic in making the necessary distinction between law and gospel, God hidden and God revealed, to provide contemporary readers with a vigorous introduction to the loci of Lutheran theology. With the epistle to the Romans as his framework, Paulson deftly gives an account of Luther’s confession of Jesus Christ and with precision and literary craftsmanship identifies the use (and misuse) of this theology in the church which bears his name.

—John T. Pless, assistant professor of pastoral ministry and mission, Concordia Theological Seminary

Looking over Martin Luther’s shoulder as he studies the Scriptures and into his heart as it hosts the battle between Satan’s deception and doubt and the Holy Spirit’s truth and trust, Paulson plunges into the depths of Luther’s way of thinking. He penetrates the Wittenberg reformer’s intricate yet simple address of the realities of human experience with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Throughout, he engages other representatives of Lutheran culture and tradition, critically and perceptively, as they repeated or departed from Luther’s insights. This volume aids twenty-first century readers in reaping a rich harvest from his insight for the proclamation of repentance and the forgiveness of sins in our day.

—Robert Kolb, professor emeritus of systematic theology, Concordia Seminary

Martin Luther is for the most part fascinating, sometimes annoying, and for many people perplexing. David Whitford provides an insight to the reformer's biographical context, his theological foundations, and primarily his political theory. The basic nature of the content leads to an elementary understanding of Luther. At no point does Whitford evade discussing problems in Luther’s theology, instead inviting discussion with him concerning his interpretation. The book should be read by beginners in Luther studies, taking their first steps, as well by scholars who seek a fresh look on Luther.

—Volker Leppin, professor of church history, University of Tübingen

David Whitford’s graceful new study does exactly what its title promises: guide readers who have only a vague notion of Martin Luther through his life, ideas, and key writings. The book explains complex theological issues in clear, but not overly simplistic, language, and does not avoid the controversies in which Luther was involved, many of which remain matters of debate today: Do humans have free will? Does religion allow one to oppose the government? How should Christians regard the Jews? How should Christians regard—and treat—each other?

—Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, department of history, University of Wisconsin

Venturing across centuries and continents to encounter great thinkers of the past always involves a cross-cultural experience, for which a guide is mandatory as we make the first trip. David Whitford takes twenty-first century readers without much background in the Europe of the sixteenth century in hand and offers views of Martin’s life and thought that provide a path into his world and way of proclaiming the biblical message to his contemporaries. Readers in conversation with the author gain facts and flavor as they move across the bridges he builds from now back to then.

—Robert Kolb, professor emeritus of systematic theology, Concordia Seminary