Examination Of The Council Of Trent, Part 1

by Martin Chemnitz, Martin Chemnitz

The Examination of the Council of Trent series has been the basis for dialogue between Catholics and Lutherans for centuries. This is the first English translation of Chemnitz's work, which became the standard Lutheran answer to the claims of Rome as set forth at Trent. This volume addresses the Roman Catholic sacraments Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, the Mass, Penance, Last rites (Extreme Unction), Holy orders, and Matrimony.

Genres: Theology, Christian, History, Religion, Church History

706 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1574

Reviews

[Johann Caauwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish it, but it was worth it. I agree with the professor who listed the Examen among books that a Lutheran pastor should read to make sure he's still a Lutheran. The final paragraph of the volume sums it up: "I pray to God the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart that He will preserve the light of His Word, which He Himself has kindled in our churches by His Holy Spirit, and that He will not let it be extinguished either by papalistic darkness or by the foggy mists of the fanatics but that He will preserve us in His true knowledge to eternal life. Amen!" (p. 663). I'm looking forward to volume II.

[Adam Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book on the Christian faith. The Reformation sparked the recentralization of the Gospel (salvation by Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone on the basis of scripture alone) in Christian theology, but it met with opposition from the Roman Catholic Church. Many of what were deemed errors by the Reformers were codified as infallible tradition in the Catholic Council of Trent (in which the Reformers were not allowed any say whatsoever to voice their complaints with medieval innovations). Chemnitz writes after the Council of Trent to examine its faults and bring to light the historical faith of the Church. There is not only extensive quotation of scripture to refute Trent but the volume is replete with quote after quote from the Church Fathers to demonstrate what was declared at Trent was not taught by the historical Church.

This first volume of the Examination of Trent focuses on the position of scripture within the Church as the norm and source of doctrine. The Trentan claim was that scripture must be interpreted through the Church so that (Roman Catholic) tradition is the true arbiter of doctrine. Yet, Chemnitz demonstrates with the Church Fathers that they always upheld scripture as God's own Word and it has the final say over matters of doctrine.

[Mark Gaschler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have spent years avoiding the Examination as a layman and as a seminarian. It looked too big on the shelf, and probably too deep in the weeds. I had other books I needed to read, papers to write, and I didn't need it complicating my life.

But now, as a pastor, reading books like the Examination is part of my job. And lo and behold, Chemnitz is pretty great. Good scholarship combined with personal disgust for his opponent, the Portuguese theologian Andrada. (For what little it's worth, and it's worth very little, Andrada's wikipedia page mentions Chemnitz, while Chemnitz's does not.)

Let this serve as a review for all the volumes of the Examination, since I doubt I'll need to write one for each.

[Philip Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive answer, almost three hundred years prior, to Newman's famous dictum that to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant. Chemnitz's penetrating scholastic defence of the Catholicity of the Lutheran Reformation and novelty of Trent is a must-read for any serious student of historical theology.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but tough read. If nothing else, it is interesting to read what they thought, and what they knew at the time. My only complaint was the sarcastic and condescending tone. It is almost like a battle on social media in the modern era. The book also reminded me of Hitchens and Harris writing against religion with the same tone. I guess hitchslapping has a long history.

[Aaron Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very concise for a 700 page book, looking forward to the next volume.

[Kevin Mcclain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for the faint of heart! It serves well as a reference piece. If you are brave enough to go cover to cover you are a better man than me! It is very helpful to those wishing to broaden their understanding of Catholic perceptions of the various protestant positions and the Lutheran response thereto. Chemnitz is excellent as always, his deep knowledge of the church fathers made him the ideal man for this task and it is unlikely that any man other than Luther himself could have done a better job.