Luther's Works, vol. 31: Career of the Reformer I

Luther's Works #31

by Harold John Grimm, Helmut T. Lehmann (Editor)

The young Luther emerges in this volume in his role of reformer. We follow him through his early years of clarifying his evangelical doctrines and relive with him the stirring events that were to influence the fate of Germany, all of Europe, and eventually the whole world.

Genres: Theology, Reference, Nonfiction, Religion

440 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 30 volumes of Lectures and Sermons on the various books of the Bible, with this volume we now move into the other works of Luther - and we got right back to the beginning with his "Disputation against Scholastic Theology" and his famous "95 Theses". There are quite a few gems in this volume - in particular I think the "Two Kinds of Righteousness" and "The Freedom of a Christian" stand out above all the others, and the rest are quite good!

One things I was unaware of, I am a bit ashamed to say, is the "Explanations of the Ninety Five Theses" - I've read the 95 Theses many times, and have shared them, etc but don't recall ever coming across this valuable work. So was very pleased to read that :)

Highly recommended volume if you want to get to know the early Luther and his understanding.

[Eric Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

For April, my ancient mentor was Martin Luther. I began with vol. 31 (Career of the Reformer 1) of Luther's Works. The contents are as follows:

1) Disputation against Scholastic Theology (1517)
2) 95 Theses (1517)
3) Heidelberg Disputation (1518)
4) Preface to the Complete Ed. of German Theology (1518)
5) Explanations of the 95 Theses (1518)
6) Proceedings at Augsburg (Acta Augustana) (1518)
7) Two Kinds of Righteousness (sermon on Phil 2) (1519)
8) The Leipzig Debate (1519)
9) The Freedom of a Christian (1520)
10) Why the books of the Pope and his disciples were burned by Dr. Martin Luther (1520)

I really enjoy Luther. Though some of these works were more philosophical, I appreciated sitting under his tutelage. For me, the most striking thing about the early years of Luther is how Catholic he still is. The 95 Theses are hardly evangelical. But in the same breath, between 1517-1520 you begin to see the seeds of what would become the rallying cry of the Reformation: justification by faith, not works; the Scripture is the sole authority in religion; and the universal priesthood of all believers. It reminded me that reformation is a process, not a position. I am not reform-ed, but I am reform-ing (according to Scripture). Believers, especially in the Reformed tradition, need to be reminded of that; I need a reminder of that.

If I could only read one treatise from this collection, it would be The Freedom of a Christian. This lays out, for Luther, the whole of Christian life in a brief form. In short, A christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all. There you see emerging the law/gospel distinction, Sola Fide, the priesthood (and kingship) of all believers.

See notebook for further notes.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

LUTHER'S EARLIEST WORKS - FROM BEFORE THE "BREAK" WITH ROME

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was originally a German monk, priest, and professor of theology. This volume covers the period from 1517 (when his Ninety-Five Theses attacked the doctrine of indulgences, as practiced by Johann Tetzel in particular), to his conflicts with the Roman Catholic curia; it ends before his excommunication by Pope Leo X in 1521. (See 'Luther's Works, Volume 32: Career of the Reformer II' for the next volume.)

In the Disputation Against Scholastic Theology, he asserts that Aristotle is to theology as darkness is to light. (Pg. 12) [Later, he states that the ideas of Plato are better than Aristotle's; pg. 42) He concludes the Disputation by stating that he has said nothing that is not in agreement with the Catholic church and the teachers of the church. (Pg. 16)

In his famous Ninety-Five Theses, he rejects Tetzel's claim that as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory, asserting "when money clinks into the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased." (Pg. 28) In his Explanations of the 95 Theses, he states that "I desire to say or maintain absolutely nothing except... what is in the Holy Scriptures and can be maintained from them; and then what is in and from the writings of the church fathers and is accepted by the Roman church..." (Pg. 83) Later, he says that it is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters. (Pg. 208)

In the Heidelberg Disputation, he puts forward the thesis that outside of grace, the will of man is not free; the will is necessarily in bondage and captive even if it is free of all compulsion. (Pg. 58) In the Augsburg proceedings, he clarifies his position that no one can be justified except by faith: "a man must believe with firm faith that he is justified and in no way doubt that he will obtain grace. For if he doubts and is uncertain, he is not justified but rejects grace." (Pg. 270)

Perhaps surprisingly, he refers to Leo X as "a very good pope... whose integrity and learning are a delight to all upright persons... He is worthy of having become pope in better times..." (Pg. 155)

Luther's works are definitely worth reading in their original form (rather than in the dribs and drabs one usually gets selectively quoted), for anyone interested in Protestant

[Adam Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A selection of works of the early Luther which are drawn from the impetus of the Reformation movement (when the papacy takes active offense to the 95 Theses) to the initial defenses by Luther of salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Since this is the early Luther, prior to a more thorough examination of scripture against tradition through the lens of the Church Fathers, there are things not supported by Luther and the Reformation supported here, like Purgatory. However, Christ in the Church is upheld throughout these works with a desire to justify the Pope should he be opposed to the errors in the Church. This is not an attack on the Church or the papacy but against bad doctrine.

The most historically recognizable document in the collection are the 95 Theses which deny the role given to indulgences in Luther's day which is, essentially, paying money for the reception of grace. A much longer work is in the collection aptly titled "Explanations of the Ninety-Five Theses" to elaborate on the issue at hand. Also of note is the "Heidelberg Disputation" which was spoken to Augustinian monks in Luther's chapter and lays a lot of the groundwork for grace which is not explicit in the 95 Theses but characteristic of the Reformation in general. There is also the landmark "The Freedom of a Christian" which lays out the doctrine of the two kinds of righteousness (a sermon on this also in the book) without naming it. Basically, a Christian is set free from the Law by the grace of Christ that s/he may be righteous by Christ. This is righteousness before God. It is then the Christian becomes a servant to all because this is how Christ was righteous to us. This active righteousness is our righteousness before the world.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wide variety of Luther. Very theological writings, some vivid invective against opponents, and the marvelous treasure and jewel of The Freedom of a Christian - which alone is more than worth the price of the book. Some selections of this volume are a little tough to get through, but other parts are just marvelous. And there are rewarding sections even in the tougher parts.
From Freedom of a Christian - "We do not...reject good works; on the contrary, we cherish and teach them as much as possible....This is what makes caring for the body a Christian work, that through its health and comfort we may be able to work, to acquire, and lay by funds with which to aid those who are in need, that in this way the strong member may serve the weaker, and we may be sons of God, each caring for and working for the other, bearing one another's burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ. This is a truly Christian life. Here faith is truly active through love, that is, it finds expression in works of the freest service, cheerfully and lovingly done, with which a man willingly serves another without hope of reward; and for himself he is satisfied with the fullness and wealth of his faith."

[Sooho Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This particular volume has some of Luther's most foundational works. But the Luther's Works series is notorious for being a bit ad-hoc with its compilation; it seems less intuitive than its German counterpart. Nevertheless, the famed "Heidelberg Disputation" (1517) is in here -- one of my favorite Luther works.

[Paul Willweber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some good early Luther, at times soaring theology.

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not like Luther as a person and I rarely agree with him on matters of doctrine or interpretation, but I cannot help but admire his passion on many theological points.

[Curt Engelbrecht]

Read "The Freedom of a Christian".