The Christian in Society, Vol. I

Luther's Works #44

by Martin Luther, Helmut T. Lehmann

During the interval between the Leipzig Debate in 1519 and the dramatic, decisive Diet of Worms in 1521, Luther faced a wide array of major problems. He was forced to defend the emerging Reformation against its secular and ecclesiastical enemies and to clarify his own position. At the same time he had to address himself to a host of friends, supporters, and sympathizers who were apprehensive about where Luther's theology was leading. It was during this critical period that the writings contained in this volume were written.

Genres: Religion

440 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk, theologian, university professor and church reformer whose ideas inspired the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.

Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the only infallible source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians under Jesus are a spiritual priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was a free gift of God, received only by true repentance and faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith given by God and unmediated by the church.

Luther's confrontation with Charles V at the Diet of Worms over freedom of conscience in 1521 and his refusal to submit to the authority of the Emperor resulted in his being declared an outlaw of the state as he had been excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. Because of the perceived unity of the medieval Church with the secular rulers of western Europe, the widespread acceptance of Luther's doctrines and popular vindication of his thinking on individual liberties were both phenomenal and unprecedented.

His translation of the Bible into the vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous political impact on the church and on German culture. It furthered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation of the English King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of congregational singing within Christianity. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage within Protestantism.

Much scholarly debate has concentrated on Luther's writings about the Jews. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated and liberty curtailed were revived and used in propaganda by the Nazis in 1933–45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial.

Reviews

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume collects some quite interesting works of Luther - covering Marriage, Good Works, Politics, Monastic Vows and more. This collection gives a good insight into the foundations of Christian Society that Luther developed as he delved more into Scripture and compared it with the practice of the world around him.

Of all of them, I think “To the Christian Nobility” was the one I enjoyed the most with “Treatise on Good Works” coming a close second.

The work on “Monastic Vows” was well argued, but as I found in some other of Luther’s works, it does repeat the arguments a bit too often. This is probably because this isn’t the issue to me it obviously was back in Luther’s time. It sort of that I think Luther has made his point well, but he continues until he obliterates any opposition - which I know some of my colleagues enjoy - but I struggle a bit with...

The article on how to handle Confession in regards to his “Forbidden Books” was quite an interesting one - and I would be intrigued to know how many followed the advice contained. Seems a bit of a bold ask ;-)

44 Volumes down, onto Vol 45 :)

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two of the pieces included in this volume, Treatise on Good Works and To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, were just outstanding. The last one, "The Judgment of Martin Luther on Monastic Vows" was long. Some real good stuff, but he could have used an editor and it could have been 1/3 and still made his point. On that one, I kept hoping he would have autobiographical input, but none. Still good, but lots of chaff. This volume is very worthwhile. I read it as a devotion.