A Large Catechism

by Robert W. Jenson, Gregory Fryer (Foreword)

From the When I first read Jenson's A Large Catechism, back in 1991, it functioned in my life as a dazzling Do not be the blockhead of whom Luther complained! Do not be a "lazy-belly and presumptuous saint" who imagines that he or she can absorb and master the Catechism at one reading, and who, therefore, tosses the book into a corner as if they are ashamed to read it again. Jenson's A Large Catechism reminded me and demonstrated for me that the Catechism is very rich, that we cannot plumb its depths, and that, as Luther said, "I must still read and study the Catechism daily, yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and I do it gladly." The great thing about this little book is that you will find in Jenson one who has remained a child and pupil of the Catechism, and who, in Christian friendship and grace, gladly shares with us what he has learned over a lifetime of study and devotion to these fundamental matters of the faith...

Genres: Theology

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2013

About the author

Robert W. Jenson was a student of Barth's theology for many years, and his doctoral dissertation at the University of Heidelberg earned Barth’s approval as an interpretation of his writings. A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Jenson attended Luther College in Iowa and Luther Theological Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, before studying at Heidelberg where he was awarded his Doctor of Theology, summa cum laude. After doing graduate work at the University of Basel he returned to the United States. He taught theology for many years at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and St. Olaf College. Dr. Jenson also served as Senior Scholar for Research at the Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton, NJ. He died in 2017.

Reviews

[Blake Viall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent except

This book would be lovely, except that in it Jenson appears to deny the physical resurrection of Jesus. This is a flaw in his theology I cannot get over. It is a tragedy.