There has been a distinct tendency in modern scholarship to underestimate Luther’s teaching on love by overemphasizing his teaching on justification. Calling this tendency into question, this volume advances the thesis that Luther’s teaching on faith and love operates as the overriding thematic pair in the dynamics of Christ and the law—structurally and conceptually undergirding the 1535 Galatians commentary. The research situates itself in the landscape of Luther scholarship via a special attention to Finnish Luther scholars and scholarship. The project argues that in the discussion of proper righteousness and holiness, Luther’s redefined love emerges in harmony with faith. His views on Christian freedom, the Christ-given law of love, the twofold way of fulfilling the law, and his Christological premises demonstrate the logical rationale for reintroducing love. This love, designated as a fruit of faith, is incarnated in three major relations: love toward God, toward others, and toward self.

"Luther can be a forceful teacher of lived religion. He can be a resource for the enrichment of personal spirituality for members of all Christian confessions. Above all, Luther sought to help people be struck personally by the word and work of Christ." So writes Jared Wicks in Luther and His Spiritual Legacy, a work full of citations of Luther's teaching that shows the Reformer treating major issues of Christian living that focus on conversion from self-reliance to trusting God's word of grace. After a concise survey of the world in 1500, Luther's theology of the cross emerges from his interpretation of Psalms and Romans. Once the Reformation reached an initial settlement, Luther produced attractive catechisms to counter ignorance of the Christian basics among the people and their pastors. Luther's many-sided controversial arguments--with Catholic opponents, the Reformation radicals, Erasmus, and Zwingli--were efforts to ward off misconceptions of the central dynamics of Christian conversion. But Luther's later constructive works offer a well-rounded account of life in Christ--characteristically marked by personal certainty ever renewed from God's address, by eruptive spontaneity in doing good, and by dutiful service in one's vocation.

Luther can be a forceful teacher of lived religion. He can be a resource for the enrichment of personal spirituality for members of all Christian confessions. Above all, Luther sought to help people be struck personally by the word and work of Christ. So writes Jared Wicks in Luther and His Spiritual Legacy, a work full of citations of Luther's teaching that shows the Reformer treating major issues of Christian living that focus on conversion from self-reliance to trusting God's word of grace. After a concise survey of the world in 1500, Luther's theology of the cross emerges from his interpretation of Psalms and Romans. Once the Reformation reached an initial settlement, Luther produced attractive catechisms to counter ignorance of the Christian basics among the people and their pastors. Luther's many-sided controversial arguments--with Catholic opponents, the Reformation radicals, Erasmus, and Zwingli--were efforts to ward off misconceptions of the central dynamics of Christian conversion. But Luther's later constructive works offer a well-rounded account of life in Christ--characteristically marked by personal certainty ever renewed from God's address, by eruptive spontaneity in doing good, and by dutiful service in one's vocation.

This historical dictionary examines the development of Lutheranism from its inception in the 16th century to its place as one of the largest and most influential Protestant denominations in the modern world. This book explores Lutheranism's middle position between Roman Catholicism/ Eastern Orthodoxy and the Reformed Presbyterian and other Protestant Churches. It is well-suited to the religious scholar and those with a historical interest in church development.

Drawing on the early correspondence of Martin Luther, Timothy Dost presents a reassessment of the degree to which humanism influenced the thinking of this key reformation figure. Studying letters written by Luther between 1507 and 1522, he explores the various ways Luther used humanism and humanist techniques in his writings and the effect of these influences on his developing religious beliefs. The letters used in this study, many of which have never before been translated into English, focus on Luther's thoughts, attitudes and application of humanism, uncovering the extent to which he used humanist devices to develop his understanding of the gospel. Although there have been other studies of Luther and humanism, few have been grounded in such a close philological examination of Luther's writings. Combining a sound knowledge of recent historiography with a detailed familiarity with Luther's correspondence, Dost provides a sophisticated contribution to the field of reformation studies.

"In the sea of Luther studies, this volume stands out as one of the best available in English. It is a condensed retrospective of the most significant Reformation research of the last decade, and it is clearly written with verve, insight, and humor." -- CHOICE "Gritsch has provided us with a full-scale, one-volume biography of Luther. The work is meticulously documented and the bibliography at the end will alone warrant the price of the book." -- Roland H. Bainton "This book will be an invaluable source of information for students of the Lutheran Reformation. Ecumenists will find in its pages a great resource in their efforts to deal with issues that have been church - divisive." -- Carl J. Peter, Catholic University of America