Martin Luther’s Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development
Overview
This definitive analysis of the theology of Martin Luther surveys its development during the crises of Luther’s life, then offers a systematic survey by topics. Containing a wealth of quotations from less-known writings by Luther and written in a way that will interest both scholar and novice, Lohse’s magisterial volume is the first to evaluate Luther’s theology in both ways. Lohse’s historical analysis takes up Luther’s early exegetical works and then his debates with traditions important to him in the context of the various controversies leading up to his dispute with the Antinomians. The systematic treatment shows how the meaning of ancient Christian doctrines took their place within the central teaching of justification by faith.
In the Logos edition of Martin Luther’s Theology, 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!
- Foreword by Bernhard Lohse
- In-depth introduction
- Bibliographical references and index
Top Highlights
“What is new is that of all the questions with which theology must deal, the aim and goal in any given instance is the question of salvation.” (Page 35)
“First of all, both Wyclif and Hus emphasized Holy Scripture more strongly than scholastic theology. They held Scripture to be the ‘divine law’ which the church must follow and by which to be critically measured where needed. This, in essence, already set up the Reformation principle of sola scriptura and critically applied it to the church of that period. Of course, the difference between Wyclif and Hus on the one hand, and Luther on the other, is that for them Scripture was predominantly law, not also the liberating gospel.” (Page 15)
“Altogether, Luther rigorously distanced himself from the Occamist concept of sin,10 especially from the view that by their natural powers humans are able to keep the commandments of God. Luther again to the contrary: ‘For this reason it is plain insanity to say that man of his own powers can love God above all things and can perform the works of the Law according to the substance of the act, even if not according to the intentions of Him who gave the commandment, because he is not in a state of grace.” (Page 71)
“The doctrine of justification is ultimately the criterion respecting the propriety of dealing with the knowledge of God and the self.25 Knowledge of God and the self are to be gained only in mutual relation. It is not true that for Luther knowledge of self, say, would first be necessary in order from it to arrive at knowledge of God.26 Rather, knowledge of self is attained together with knowledge of God, just as true knowledge of self is at the same time knowledge of God.” (Page 41)
Bernhard Lohse was one of the top Luther scholars in the twentieth century, and this book is the rich harvest of a lifetime of Luther study. It is the best survey of Luther’s theology in any language and supersedes all previous studies.
—Scott H. Hendrix, Princeton Theological Seminary
- Title: Martin Luther’s Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development
- Author: Bernhard Lohse
- Publisher: Augsburg Fortress
- Publication Date: 1999
- Pages: 296