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Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith

Online ISBN:
9780191695742
Print ISBN:
9780199208937
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith

Robert Kolb
Robert Kolb
Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary
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Published online:
3 October 2011
Published in print:
5 February 2009
Online ISBN:
9780191695742
Print ISBN:
9780199208937
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

Martin Luther's thought continues to challenge people throughout the world in the twenty-first century. His paradigmatic shift in defining God and what it means to be human left behind a foundation for viewing human creatures that was anchored in Aristotle's anthropology. Luther defined the Revealed God in terms of his mercy and love for human beings, based not on their merit and performance but rather on his unconditioned grace. He placed ‘fearing, loving, and trusting God above all else’ at the heart of his definition of being human. This volume places the development and exposition of these key presuppositions in Luther's thinking within the historical context of late medieval theology and piety as well as the unfolding dynamics of political and social change at the dawn of the modern era. Special attention is given the development of a ‘Wittenberg way’ of practicing theology under Luther's leadership, which left behind a dependence on allegorical methods of biblical interpretation for a ‘literal-prophetic’ approach to Scripture. More importantly, it placed the distinction between the ‘gospel’ as God's unmerited gift of identity as his children and the ‘law’ at the heart of all interpretation of the Bible.

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