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Luther's Works #35
Luther's Works, Volume 35: Word and Sacrament I
The writings in this first of four volumes of Luther's Works on Word and Sacrament are for the most part from a fifteen year span- from the year of the Leipzig Debate to the publication of Luther's German Bible. All twelve are translated either for the first time or in revised form by the editor.
426 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1960
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 22, 2024
Martin Luther's prefaces to the biblical books are well worth reading, if only for his high view of the Psalter and his repeated affirmations of of the regulative principle of worship.
August 13, 2019
This is a good volume that covers many things. We start out with some early sermons of Luther's on the Sacraments - including when he still say penance as a sacrament. Then we get into quite a collection of works that cover the birth of modern hermeneutics - looking at how we are to interpret and wrestle with the Bible given that it is the Holy Word of God. Whilst Luther has a very high view of Scripture, he is quite adamant that it is to be read through the eyes of the Cross and Resurrection. We also have the wonderful prefaces from the various books of the Bible, that he wrote - including for the Apocrypha.
I know many a Christian congregation that would be horrified to see some of the things that Luther questions. But he wasn't afraid to wrestle with Scripture - always interpreting Scripture with Scripture. As well as listening to tradition but not being a slave to it. We still have much to learn from the Reformers...
I also find it fascinating that even with his doubts and questions about Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation that he still translated them into German and included them. I think we often overlook that whilst Luther had strong views, he also realised he could be wrong - and we often need to look at his actions, not just his words.
I know many a Christian congregation that would be horrified to see some of the things that Luther questions. But he wasn't afraid to wrestle with Scripture - always interpreting Scripture with Scripture. As well as listening to tradition but not being a slave to it. We still have much to learn from the Reformers...
I also find it fascinating that even with his doubts and questions about Hebrews, James, Jude and Revelation that he still translated them into German and included them. I think we often overlook that whilst Luther had strong views, he also realised he could be wrong - and we often need to look at his actions, not just his words.
July 3, 2012
Read the following (did not read materials related translation):
"The Sacrament of Penance" (1519)
"The Holy and Blessed Sacrament of Baptism" (1519)
"The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ, and the Brotherhoods" (1519)
"A Treatise on the New Testament, that is, the Holy Mass" (1520)
"A Brief Instruction on what to Look for and Expect in the Gospels" (1521)
"Avoiding the Doctrines of Men and a Reply to the Texts Cited in Defense of the Doctrines of Men" (1522)
"How Christians should Regard Moses" (1525)
Luther's treatments of the sacraments in this volume are early, and the introductions in this edition are very helpful in placing these treatises in the development of Luther's thought (for instance, at this point Luther had reduced the sacraments from seven to three; later he would reduce them to Baptism and the Lord's Supper). Luther's primary goal in the treatises on the sacraments is to respond to abuses in the medieval church.
The title to Luther's "Brief Instruction" is potentially misleading, for it does not provide a guide to the four gospels. Rather, Luther mounts the argument that the gospel is found throughout the New Testament. He contrasts the promises of the gospel with the works of the Law demanded by Moses.
In "Avoiding the Doctrines of Men" Luther argues against the addition of rules, such as avoiding certain foods on certain days, or the rules of monastic orders, as binding on Christians or certain groups of Christians. He also replies to claims that the Scripture itself supports the creation of these human commandments.
In "How Christians should Regard Moses" Luther argues that the law cannot produce righteousness or good works. The Christian must distinguish the law and the gospel. The law says, "do this." The gospel says, "This is what God has done for you." In addition, the Law was given to Israel, not to the Christian. This does not mean, however, that there is no commonality between what God expected of Israel and what he expects of Christians—what is required by natural law, is required both of Israelite and Christian. Luther warns that obeying one part of the Mosaic law as Mosaic law binds one to the whole, but at the same time he does not dismiss the significance of the law for the Christian. The law contains fine examples of law that could be reused (e.g., some of its concrete implementations of natural law can provide guidance to Gentile nations for their implementation of natural law), the law contains many promises, and the law contains examples both good and bad from which the Christian should learn.
I enjoyed the writings on he law and the gospel the most. I think Luther is in general correct in his assessment of the place of the law, though I also think that greater room for the third use of the law can and should be made within this framework.
"The Sacrament of Penance" (1519)
"The Holy and Blessed Sacrament of Baptism" (1519)
"The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ, and the Brotherhoods" (1519)
"A Treatise on the New Testament, that is, the Holy Mass" (1520)
"A Brief Instruction on what to Look for and Expect in the Gospels" (1521)
"Avoiding the Doctrines of Men and a Reply to the Texts Cited in Defense of the Doctrines of Men" (1522)
"How Christians should Regard Moses" (1525)
Luther's treatments of the sacraments in this volume are early, and the introductions in this edition are very helpful in placing these treatises in the development of Luther's thought (for instance, at this point Luther had reduced the sacraments from seven to three; later he would reduce them to Baptism and the Lord's Supper). Luther's primary goal in the treatises on the sacraments is to respond to abuses in the medieval church.
The title to Luther's "Brief Instruction" is potentially misleading, for it does not provide a guide to the four gospels. Rather, Luther mounts the argument that the gospel is found throughout the New Testament. He contrasts the promises of the gospel with the works of the Law demanded by Moses.
In "Avoiding the Doctrines of Men" Luther argues against the addition of rules, such as avoiding certain foods on certain days, or the rules of monastic orders, as binding on Christians or certain groups of Christians. He also replies to claims that the Scripture itself supports the creation of these human commandments.
In "How Christians should Regard Moses" Luther argues that the law cannot produce righteousness or good works. The Christian must distinguish the law and the gospel. The law says, "do this." The gospel says, "This is what God has done for you." In addition, the Law was given to Israel, not to the Christian. This does not mean, however, that there is no commonality between what God expected of Israel and what he expects of Christians—what is required by natural law, is required both of Israelite and Christian. Luther warns that obeying one part of the Mosaic law as Mosaic law binds one to the whole, but at the same time he does not dismiss the significance of the law for the Christian. The law contains fine examples of law that could be reused (e.g., some of its concrete implementations of natural law can provide guidance to Gentile nations for their implementation of natural law), the law contains many promises, and the law contains examples both good and bad from which the Christian should learn.
I enjoyed the writings on he law and the gospel the most. I think Luther is in general correct in his assessment of the place of the law, though I also think that greater room for the third use of the law can and should be made within this framework.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews