Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

by Lutheran World Federation

This volume presents in English the official Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, confirmed by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church in Augsburg, Germany, in October 1999. The results of decades of Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue, this primary document represents an ecumenical event of historical signifance.

Genres: Theology, Religion

47 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 2000

Reviews

[Adam Lam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty awesome, I should've read this a long time ago - a huge W for ecumenicism and Christianity as a whole.

This document, accepted officially by both Lutherans and Catholics, is concise and unbiased, and it presents both Catholic and Lutheran positions on justification well. There is a ton of agreement. There are no poor caricatures of either side, but the differences are not sugar-coated either. What I appreciated from both sides was the difference in emphases while still acknowledging that the other side can be true.

I also did not know that the mutual condemnations from the Catholics and Lutherans no longer apply.

It's cool to see its public reception outside of Lutherans and Catholics. The Methodist and Reformed traditions accepted it, and the Anglicans soon came to a similar agreement.

[Ben De Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Joint Declaration on Justification is one of the most important theological documents of the modern era. Although it still leaves ecumenical work to be done, it is nonetheless a sweeping triumph for ecumenism.

The relationship between the Catholic and Lutheran churches has been a half millennium of misunderstanding, division and damaging rhetoric. What's so encouraging about this document is that in a relatively few amount of pages, it cuts through all of that and paves a way for unprecedented understanding. Even where disagreement still exists, this document presents a fair and balanced treatment of both sides arguments, rather than the hyperbolic, overtly-misconstrued treatment the two sides have historically given each other.

Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Joint Declaration is its claim that the mutual anathemas of the Reformation error no longer apply to today's churches. Whether or not those condemnations were valid at the time they were given is a historical question and one the Joint Declaration doesn't address. However, valid or not, those condemnations can, praise God!, finally be left in the past.

This document leaves work still to be done and it's important not to overstate its achievement. But while it doesn't end the Reformation, it lays the groundwork for eventual, if still quite distant, reunification. Let's hope and pray that both churches follow through on the promise of this document and work for the unity Christianity so desperately needs

[Grant Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A triumph of ecumenism, and a huge encouragement for me, as one who has swam the Tiber. There is still much work to do, but I am deeply thankful for this document and the work that was put into it.

[Cal Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was beautiful. I pray this gets to be more widely known among the laity of the church because the vitriol surrounding the Catholic- Protestant arguments about justification need not be. Essentially any good work we do is a gift of Gods grace and union with God frees us from sin.

“We confess together that God forgives sin by grace and at the same time frees human beings from sin’s enslaving power.”

any merit that we have is a gift if Gods grace. and it is noted that "merit" should be switched out for the more biblical words "wages" or "rewards" as to confuse the other side.

They draw from what was already in the Lutheran condemnations and the Council of Trent but seen in a a different light now as opposed to how it was seen in the 16th century. Both sides had political reasons not to find reasons to unify at the time. A lot of it had to do with the power of the bishops. If they recognized the authority of the church the bishop was able to control the town.

Much has changed since then and this is a big step toward the visible unity of the church. I pray God shows us the next step.

[Peter Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief but important document between Catholics and Lutherans; a true fruit of ecumenical dialogue.

This joint declaration by no means resolves all the issues between the two bodies concerning justification, as the Lutherans still “exclude any possibility of contributing to one’s own justification,” I am thankful that both bodies came to agreement on confessing:

“By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.”

I’ve also learned more about Lutherans’ position on justification and I think that Luther’s scrupulously really came through on his assertion of sola fide. This document is a breath of fresh air, avoiding talking past each other and mischaracterizing the simplifications of “faith alone” versus “faith and works.”

[Connor Longaphie · Rating 2 out of 5]

How dare the liberals that signed this poor excuse of a declaration call themselves Lutherans

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of a graduate school assignment (I’m Catholic). It was very encouraging. I learned a lot about my own faith, and even more about Lutherans.

[Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pon...



Me parece bastante clara y esquemática la explicación de los que piensan unos y otros. No es un tema sencillo. Entiendo que esta declaración es un hito muy importante en la unificación de miradas sobre el tema de la justificación.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting example of two churches working out the differences in their ideas about some of their foundational theology.

[Joey Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ecumenical W