Martin Luther’s Anti-Semitism: Against His Better Judgment
Overview
In this book, distinguished Lutheran scholar Eric W. Gritsch faces the glaring ugliness of Martin Luther’s anti-Semitism head-on, describing Luther’s journey from initial attempts to proselytize Jews to an appallingly racist position, which he apparently held until his death.
Comprehensively laying out the textual evidence for Luther’s virulent anti-Semitism, Gritsch traces the development of Luther’s thinking in relation to his experiences, external influences, and theological convictions. Revealing greater impending danger with each step, Martin Luther’s Anti-Semitism marches steadily onward until the full extent of Luther’s racism becomes apparent. Gritsch’s unflinching analysis also describes the impact of Luther’s egregious words on subsequent generations and places Luther within Europe’s long history of anti-Semitism.
Throughout, however, Gritsch resists the temptation either to demonize or to exonerate Luther. Rather, readers will recognize Luther’s mistakes as links in a chain that pulled him further and further away from an attitude of respect for Jews as the biblical people of God. Gritsch depicts Luther as a famous example of the intensive struggle with the enduring question of Christian-Jewish relations. It is a great historical tragedy that Luther, of all people, fell victim to anti-Semitism—albeit against his better judgment.
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- Examines the textual evidence for Luther’s anti-Semitism and its development
- Surveys writings from throughout Luther’s entire life
- Evaluates the impact of Luther’s anti-Semitic writings on following generations
- The Riddle of Anti-Semitism
- The Luther Evidence
- After-Effects
- Conclusion
Against his background of growing up in the Third Reich, his participation in interfaith dialogue over the years, and his more than half a century of studying Luther, Eric Gritsch . . . provides readers with a broad survey of those who used or ignored the Reformer’s utterances on the Jews.
—Robert Kolb, author, Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith
Gritsch brings to this project a lifetime of Luther study, and it shows. This foundation grounds the whole work, from its thorough rehearsal of the relevant texts, to its judicious account of Luther’s impact, to its masterful use of the secondary literature, to its compelling conclusion.
—Denis R. Janz, author, The Westminster Handbook to Martin Luther
- Title: Martin Luther’s Anti-Semitism: Against His Better Judgment
- Author: Eric W. Gritsch
- Publisher: Eerdmans
- Print Publication Date: 2012
- Logos Release Date: 2015
- Pages: 172
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Luther, Martin, 1483-1546; Christianity and antisemitism
- ISBNs: 9780802866769, 080286676X
- Resource ID: LLS:MRTNLTHRSJDGMNT
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:37:31Z
Reviews
1 rating
Glenn Crouch
1/23/2017
This was a particularly hard book to read - and that is a good thing. The Author covers in quite disturbing details the rise of Anti-Semitism that culminated in the horrors of Nazi Germany, as well as a similar coverage of the later Medieval World (in which we find Luther) and their Anti-Jewish practices and rhetoric. Worthwhile, also is a brief coverage of the views of the first 500 or so years of Christian writings. There is much to be sad about. The Author does a fine job of keeping the balance between "exonerating Luther" and "placing all the blame on Luther". We often overlook the fact that our heroes are flawed men and women, needing the Grace of our Lord as much as we do. I particularly appreciated the Author's argument that Luther's views were "against his better judgement". I've found this "contradiction" in my own readings of Luther - and it seems that those who followed Luther likewise saw this. Would History have been different if Luther had have followed Paul when it came to his eschatology and view of the Jews? Maybe, but as the Author points out, Luther was quite accepting of genuinely converted Jews - as opposed to Nazism. I would point out that the Author is not only Lutheran but also a survivor of the Hitler Youth, who credits the Jewish psychiatrist Viktor Frankl for his career as a Christian Theologian and Historian. Well worth the read!
REV. DR. JAIME LOPEZ ORTEGA
11/22/2015
This is the book I have been waiting to see.. Since a child I was told about the great reformer Dr. Martin Luther.. When much later as I read more by him I became aware of his hatred for The people of Israel, I felt shame that I had spoken so highly of him.. At the time I did not know about this side of him.. Now I realize that he was not the great reformer that he is painted out to be.. He simply had a great platform from which to speak.. The great ideas that he brought I now know he got from other groups which later were destroyed by the bigger militant Churches who could not compete exegetically with them.. Only to be adopted later and taking credit for their discovery in Scripture.. I still read Luther in spite of his plagiarism since it is in many cases the only place you can find elements of the old time religion that was and is and will be eternally... The other's books were stolen, hidden away, or just burned if they had copies already.. I am always amazed at how much good these Churches do and inspire in spite of their belligerent and hostile beginnings..
