Martin Luther in His Own Words: Essential Writings of the Reformation

by Jack D. Kilcrease (editor), Erwin W. Lutzer (Editor)

Though most of the Protestant world can trace its roots back to the Reformation, many people today have only a vague knowledge of Martin Luther's writings. "Didn't he write the Ninety-Five Theses?" Jack Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer step into this vacuum with a carefully selected collection of Luther's works.

Centered around the five solas of the Reformation (sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, sola Christus, soli Deo gloria), the selections offer readers an accessible primer on works that are foundational to the theology of Protestantism in all its forms. Introductions to each writing include an explanation of the historical context and the theological significance of the piece. Students of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and seminary students will find this collection an enlightening introduction to Luther in his own words and a useful addition to their libraries.

Genres: Nonfiction

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2017

Reviews

[C.E. Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

Approachable and easy to read. Short. Great translations used. Informative introductions. Just the right amount of Martin Luther for a beginner! Happy Reformation next week.

[Kyle Tomlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful introduction to the writings of Martin Luther. As a foot in the door to Luther's theology, it is certainly worth reading. Jack Kilcrease's intros and footnotes are also helpful for understanding the context and issues of the day.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five hundred years ago, the writing and teaching of Martin Luther set in motion within the church a series of reforms that were so widespread and foundational that we still speak of them as The Reformation. In this anniversary year, much is being written about the lives of the reformers, but direct access to Luther’s commentaries, sermons, and lectures is an irreplaceable part of understanding the truth that triggered such sweeping changes in the way we understand justification by faith, freedom of religion, the nature of salvation, and the wonder of God’s grace. Based on updated translations by Dr. Jack D. Kilcrease, he and Erwin Lutzer have compiled and edited Martin Luther in His Own Words so that the essential writings of the reformation are available as a resource for study and for inspiration.

The text is arranged around the five solas of the reformation with supporting excerpts from books, catechisms, commentaries, sermons, and lectures that flowed from Luther’s pen:

Sola Fide: Faith Alone

“A Christian is free lord of all and subject to none;
a Christian is the most dutiful servant of all and subject to everyone.”

From On Christian Liberty
Although Luther did not hold to mind/body dualism, he often used language of “spirit” and “flesh,” and this quote differentiates between the believer’s standing before God and her relationship with others on this planet. Both statements are rooted in the writing of Paul who “made [himself] a servant to all” while at the same time urged believers to “owe no one anything except to love each other.”

Luther’s Commentary on Galatians further explicates this relationship between faith and works with the stunning conclusion that, while the works of the law do not assist us in salvation, it is only people of faith who are truly “doers of the law.”

Sola Gratia: Grace Alone

“To fulfill the law means to do its work eagerly, lovingly, and freely, without the constraint of the law; it means to live well and in a manner pleasing to God, as though there were no law or punishment.”

From Preface to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Luther’s translation of the Bible eventually became the standard translation within the German-speaking world (equivalent to our English KJV). In his introductions to each book, his teaching lived on long after his death, influencing both Tyndale and Wesley in their spiritual development.

In his teaching and his writing, Luther affirmed the role of the law as teacher, but declared its insufficiency to bring about righteousness since it is impossible for humans to consistently obey the law. The role of the gospel is to pave the way for new life, a work of grace in which Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believing heart.

Sola Scriptura: Scripture Alone

“The clarity of Scripture is twofold, just as the obscurity is also twofold. The one is external, placed in the ministry of the Word; the other internal, placed in the understanding of the heart. If you speak of the internal clearness, no man sees one iota in the Scripture but he that has the Spirit of God. . . If you speak of he external clearness, nothing at all is left obscure or ambiguous. But all things that are in the Scriptures are by the Word brought forth into the clearest light and proclaimed to the whole world.”

From The Bondage of the Will
Luther held a high view of Scripture, affirming that, indeed, the believer can understand what it teaches on a particular subject with careful teaching, and that knowledge of Christ’s saving death on the cross, the central teaching of Scripture, is through the Word and by grace.

Solus Christus: Christ Alone

“The sins of the whole world, past, present, and future, fastened themselves on Christ and condemned him. But because Christ is God, he had an everlasting and unconquerable righteousness.”

From Commentary on Galatians: Christ Took Our Sin
Death of the sinless Christ earned justification for those who believe. Luther’s Christology differed from medieval theologians who were unwilling to accept Paul’s teaching that Christ’s work on our behalf was a sin-bearing work rather than merely a “superior moral behavior.” He argued that if we do not believe our sins have been laid on Christ, “then it is up to us to bear them.”

Soli Deo Gloria: Glory to God Alone

But let this be said . . . that we are to trust in God alone and look to him and expect from him nothing but good, as from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace, and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal things . . . as an eternal fountain that gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good and from which flows forth all that is and is called ‘good.'”

From The Large Catechism
When Luther and his colleagues discovered through visitations to country parishes that the state of Christian belief and practice were far from orthodox, he began writing summaries of basic Christian beliefs — not to replace the Bible, but to facilitate study of the Bible and worship with understanding of who God is and all that He has done.

Kilcrease and Lutzer provide just the right amount of editorial input and background material, and then allow the words of Luther to stand on their own. Looking through the cultural lens of 2017, Luther’s quest for salvation and earnest pursuit of truth stands out in startling relief against our backdrop of spiritual malaise and cultural assimilation. Thanks be to God that the realities trumpeted by Luther and his colleagues assure us that it is possible even today to embrace a livelier faith and that those who believingly follow Jesus Christ are privileged and compelled to be among those who are always growing, always striving for clarity of belief and faithfulness in practice. Because of the work of Christ and the revealed truth of God’s Word, by grace and through faith, we are always reforming — to the glory of God.

//

This book was provided by Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[J.K. Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Rating - If you are looking for something

Level - Short, but moderately difficult read. This isn't an intro for the Reformation, some knowledge of church history and theology will be needed.

Summary
The title could be a bit misleading to some, i.e., one may think it is a sort of autobiography. However, the book is a collect of Martin Luther's writings. Twelve selections, to be precise, broken into five broad topics (cleverly) modeled after the five solas - fida, gratia, scriptura, Christus, and gloria.

If you are unfamiliar, the five 'solae' (alone or only in Latin, think of the modern words sole and solo) was the cry of the Reformation. So the chapters are laid out in the Latin words mentioned above that correspond to faith, grace, Scripture, Christ, glory (to God). Delving into these is beyond the scope of a book review, but as this year (2017) is the 500 anniversary of the Reformation and Martin Luther was the initiator, it was a pretty interesting way to divide the book.

There is an into by Kilcrease before each selection that helps with context and there are a few footnotes within the selections that are helpful for understanding particular, archaic, and/or theological/ecclesiastical terms.

My Thoughts
There is a difficultly in trying to review a sample pack of a book. My main critique would be that Luther's most famous writings are probably 'The Bondage of the Will' and his Larger & Short Catechisms, and if you know much about him, his commentary on Galatians, and of the 12 selections, only four come from sources other than these. Granted, this may have been their reason for the selections, but I would have preferred a more diverse grouping.

I wanted to like this book more, but maybe because I am fairly familiar with Luther, it just didn't quite do it for me. However, if you do not know much about Luther's writings or the beginnings of the Reformation, this may be a great place to start. Kilcrease's introductions are great and very informative. Or, if you are curious about Luther's writings and don't know where to begin, this would be a great place to start. If you haven't read much, the translation footnotes are incredibly helpful and will make it an easier read the just pulling some of the freely available online versions of many of his writings.

There is renewed interest in Luther and the Reformation in general this year as we approach the 500th anniversary and this book is one to read, if you are looking for something. 

If you were looking for a biography then check out Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther.. I haven't read it yet, but the general consensus seems to be that it is the best.

If you think this book sounds a little to introductory, or you've read it and want more of Luther, then this collection (which I have read) seems to be the best next step (there is some overlap) - The Martin Luther Collection: 15 Classic Works

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

More reviews at https://MondayMorningTheologian.com/

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This year, 2017, marks the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation. Luther was instrumental in initiating the movement but many may not be aware of his contribution. Kilcrease and Lutzer have accumulated selections from Luther's writings and lectures to help modern readers appreciate his works.

The editors have organized the works around the topics of the five solas. They have added an introduction to each reading and updated the translations, clarifying what might not be understood by modern readers.

I appreciated the selections included in this volume. There are portions from Luther's commentary on Galatians taken from notes on his lectures. There is his introduction to Romans, including a summary of the main topics of the epistle. It was this work that moved John Wesley as he heard it read. Additional readings are from Luther's Large Catechism. My favorite reading is from The Bondage of the Will. In it, Luther explains how Christ and His saving death on the cross is the central teaching of the Bible.

Luther rediscovered the doctrine of justification by faith. He translated the Bible into the vernacular and believed preaching should be in the language of the people (not Latin). His work is an essential part of the foundation of contemporary evangelical Christian belief. I recommend this book to those who want to be familiar with Luther's works. Reading works from 500 years ago is not an easy task. The editors have done a good job, however, in helping contemporary readers tackle it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting and informative book featuring some of the key ideas Martin Luther wrote about. I really appreciated the introduction to each chapter that gave some of the background and circumstances surrounding the writing along with a short summary. A lot of the things he said were pretty amazing considering the time in which he wrote them. He didn't mince words calling out the pope. priests, etc., for the way they were leading people astray, especially for saying we depend on works to get to Heaven, instead of on God's grace. I knew his life was in danger, but hadn't realized how confrontational he was. I also never knew that he wrote so much or that he translated the Bible into German, the language of the people. I also found it interesting to learn about some of the practices the Catholic Church was enforcing, such as not being able to eat certain foods at certain times of the year and actually calling it a sin if you did so. I learned a lot about some of the theological views present then and now; this book really made me think more deeply about my faith. My favorite chapters were about freedom, the views of Christ's suffering and how Christ took our sin. I would recommend this book if you're interested in Martin Luther, the Reformation or theology!

I received this book free from Baker Books.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little sampler of Luther's writings, well-selected. Obviously a small volume like this is very much scratching the surface... but if it intrigues new readers into reading more of Luther, it's worth it.

[Sarah Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Faith does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before it is asked, it has done them. It is always active.”

Martin Luther is a pivotal person in history, best known for starting the Reformation with his 95 Theses. Almost every Protestant denomination can trace its roots back to Martin Luther. However, this book is written on the presupposition that most people aren’t well acquainted with Luther’s actual writings on religious topics.

I am planning on reading Eric Metaxas’ biography on Martin Luther when it is released this fall. I saw Martin Luther in His Own Words when I logged into Baker Book Bloggers and requested a copy in exchange for a fair review. I thought it might be helpful to read some of Luther’s writings before reading his biography.

The book is divided into five sections covering Luther’s writings on sola fide (faith), gratia (grace), scriptura (Scriptures), Christus (Christ) and Deo Gloria (God’s glory). The author introduces some chapters, telling if the writings are from a lecture, book or commentary. While I found the selections of Luther’s writing interesting and insightful, there were two things about the book I didn’t like. First, the author gave very little introduction in the book as to who Luther was and what he did. It may be that this book is intended as a reference and not toward a general audience. It would have helped to have a short biography of Luther at the beginning of the book. The other was that instead of just referring to the differences between Luther and the Catholic Church of his time, the author refers to the current Catholic Church’s beliefs a few times and some are in error with what the Church believes.

[Jason Kanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Luther was undoubtedly one of the most influential theologians in history. An exceptional communicator who was also committed to upholding God's word, he sought to expose the church's abuses. In combination with a restless people and the advent of the printing press, Luther's challenges started a fire that took the world by storm. When Protestantism traces its roots, Luther is undoubtedly a progenitor. In other words, it is not just Lutheranism that traces its roots to Luther, but Protestantism in general.

Despite his profound influence upon Western History generally and church history in particular, I suspect few casual readers have read him, which is unfortunate. Luther was a keen thinker and worth the effort to read. When I tell people that one of my must read books is Luther's Commentary on the Galatians, I am met with glazed eyes that ask, "why would anyone read a commentary for pleasure?"

Perhaps the greatest service that Kilcrease and Lutzer offer to the church in their new book Martin Luther in His Own Words (Baker, 2017) is a sampling of Luther. Those who are new to wine often benefit from attending a sampling; in the same way, those new to Luther also benefit from a sampling.

The authors give us 12 chapters under the heading of the five solas--sola fide, sola gratia, sola scriptura, solus christus, and soli deo gloria. For those unfamiliar with these Latin reformation terms, they mean this: faith alone, grace alone, scripture alone, Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. Under each heading, Kilcrease offers the reader 2 or 3 chapters pulled directly from Luther and offers them a helpful introduction. Sections from a number of Luther's works were included including: his commentary on Galatians, the larger catechism, and Bondage of the Will to name a few.

In an ideal world, this book will serve as an aperitif for more Luther. If this book stimulates the appetites of even 5% of its readers for his Galatians commentary, it will be an amazing success. Even if it doesn't, however, readers will come to know a man of profound biblical wisdom and insight.

I received a review copy of this book from the Baker Books Blogger program in exchange for a review. I was not required to provide a positive review and the impressions given here are my own.

[Chris Woznicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin Luther. As the 500th anniversary of the reformation this name will be on the lips of many people. Yet, most people will know of him little more than the fact that he “started” the Reformation – or better yet he caused the split between Catholics and Protestants. Some won’t even know that! They will just know that he is the guy that started Lutheran churches….. *sigh*

Yet Luther is so much more than just those things! Luther helped to rediscover the doctrine of justification by faith, “the doctrine by which the church stands or falls!” He was also a firm defender of the 5 sola’s: sola Scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, sola Christus, sola Deo Gloria.

This new book, Martin Luther in His Own Words, edited by Jack Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer attempts to give readers an introduction to the essential writers of this German reformer. Organized around the 5 Sola’s, the editors have included excerpts from some of Luther’s most important works including:

• Commentary on Galatians
• Preface to St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans
• The Bondage of the Will
• Commentary on the Lord’s Prayer

If you don’t have time to sift through all of Luther’s works but want a good introduction you don’t need to look further than this book. If you are intimidated about picking up theological literature that was written 500 years ago, again look no further! The editors have included concise but extremely helpful introductions to each of the sections.

If you are a pastor who is looking for one place where you can get the best of Luther’s works – look here. If you are a Bible college student who has always been interested in Luther but doesn’t know where to start. Look here! Finally, if you would like to do some sort of small group discussion on the Reformation, this would be a great place to start. So look here!

Note: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an impartial review.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Luther in His Own Words

Essential Writings of the Reformation



by Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin W. Lutzer, eds.

Baker Books

Christian

Pub Date 18 Apr 2017

I am reviewing Martin Luther in His Own Words through Baker Books and Netgalley:

The first selection of writings by Martin Luther (1520) in this book was Luther's Treastise On Liberty which was written in the wake of several significant events amongst them the Leipzig debate his excommunication by Pope Leo X and most likely his so called Reformation breakthrough.

In this selection Martin Luther says that a Christian is the free Lord to all and subject to none, but he also adds that a Christian is the most dutiful servant of all and subject to everyone. Like many of his other writings he goes on to talk about what it is to have faith, to understand that personal relationship with Jesus.

The next selection of writings in this book was Martin Luther's Commentary on Galatians in 1531. The coomentary points out that Paul in the gospels reminded us that whatever isn't of God is sin. He reminds us too that God gave us a way to Salvation.

Sola Gratia was a preface to St. Paul's Letters to the Romans. In this preface to Romans Martin Luther encourages the reader to memorize the book of Romans because it is the gospel in its purest form.

In The Third Article of the Apostle's Creed Maartin Luther writes about the Holy Spirit, and the way he is crucial in a Christian's worship.

Sola Scriptura reminds us of the reasons Christians need to reject the Doctrine of Men, and follow the ways of God.

The Bondage of the Will are reminded that we need to bring the scripture throughout the world, so everyone can find the good news.

Soulus Christus reminds us that true Christians incorporate the life and name of Christ into their own lives.

The Second Article of the Apostle Creed talks about the second person of the God Head (Jesus) and how we as Christians need to build a personal relationship with Jesus.

In Commentary on Galatians this book points out that Hesus took on the weight of all our sins when he was crucified on the cross, carrying the weight of the sins of the world.

Soli Deo Gloriana in this writing Martin Luther points out that we learn there is only one God, and he goes on to talk about who God is.

In The Lord's Prayer Martin Luther breaks up The Lord's Prayer into Petition, explaining each segment.

I give Martin Luther In His Own Words five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017, it may just sound like another year, but 2017 is a landmark year and not for the reason you think. 2017 is the 500th anniversary of the protestant reformation, a reformation that changed the world. Yet even though this world shifting event effected 900 million people, at this current moment, most people unfortunately have no idea what it entailed or who were the main reformers. The reformers include such godly men as John Calvin, John Knox, Ulrich Zwingli, Theodore Beza, Thomas Cranmer, and most importantly Martin Luther. Now this does not mean that these men as less important than Luther, rather Luther lit the powder keg which ignited the Reformation into a revolution. One of the ways that he did so was through his writings.
Luther wrote a great many treatises, letters, commentaries, sermons, and others works, but unfortunately outside of his 95 theses the rest of his works are very much lost in the shadows. In "Martin Luther in His Own Words" editors by Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin W. Lutzer have complied a careful abridgment of many of Luther's famous and lesser known works. These works are organized around the five pillars of the reformation, also known as the 5 Solas, which unify Protestantism. Access to these original sources aid any pastor, scholar, or congregant in the heart of what of it means to be protestant and makes this work a must own by all.

[Michelle]

`Martin Luther: In His Own Words`is a paperback book on the birth of Christian theology, written by authors Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin W. Lutzer.

I became interested in writing a review on this book after I wrote the review on Katharina and Martin Luther. I have heard others talk about him but felt I didn't have a good understanding of him personally. I found that he believes in Salvation the same way I do. It is by the grace of God, not of works. Martin speaks much of St. Paul and describes the doctrines of men and the life built on them by saying, `They are without foundation and without any basis in the scriptures and that men cannot know whether what they do is good or wicked. For all their life is an uncertain venture.' (pg # 96-97)

I liked this book because it is easy enough for a layperson to understand and has footnotes for further understanding. There is also a note about what resources were used at the back of the book.

I recommend this book to laypeople of all religions and as a study resource.

Disclaimer: "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."