Lutheran Theology: A Grammar of Faith

by Kirsi Stjerna

This textbook explores the Lutheran theological tradition. Kirsi Stjerna looks at Lutheran sources, vocabulary and focal points through the lens of the Augsburg Confession and the Large Catechism, developing a distinctive Lutheran faith language that resonates with contemporary contexts and inquirers.Lutheran Theology gives students the tools they need to understand Lutheran perspectives in the light of historical sources, to see the underlying motivations of past theological discourses and to apply this knowledge to current debates. Introducing the Book of Concord and Martin Luther's freedom theology, it shows them how to engage critically and constructively with key topics in theology and spirituality, such as freedom and confession. Stjerna pays particular attention to the contribution of women theologians, and empowers students to bring Lutheran theology into conversation with other faith languages and traditions.This textbook includes an extensive range of pedagogical A discussion guide for each chapter- Chapter-specific learning objectives- Key terms in bold, boxed text sections that identify points of debate, discussion of central topics, study questions and a glossary

Genres: Theology

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2020

About the author

Rev. Dr. Kirsi Stjerna, First Lutheran, Los Angeles/Southwest Synod Professor of Lutheran History and Theology, Chair, at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University. Author of "Women and the Reformation" and "Reformaation Naisia". Co-author of "Martin Luther, the Bible and the Jewish People" with Rev. Dr. Brooks Schramm. Translator/Editor of Rev. Dr. Tuomo Mannermaa's "Christ Present in Faith" and "Two Kinds of Love". Translator of Rev. Dr. Martti Nissinen's "Homoeroticism in the Biblical World." Co-editor of "Apocalyptic and Human Agency: Conversations with Augustine of Hippo and Martin Luther," with Dr. Deanna A. Thompson. General Editor, with Dr. Hans Hillerbrand and Rev Dr. Timothy Wengert, of "The Annotated Luther", and Volume 2 editor, "Word and Faith", forthcoming September 2015.

Reviews

[Joseph Sverker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to lutheran theology by a world expert on Luther. Stjerna does right by focusing on some of the main confessional texts of lutheranism, but I would have liked more of an emphasis on Luther's theology as a whole. A very good trait of the book is how it links naturally to today with evaluations and reflections that don't feel forced.

[cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid overview of the history of the Protestant Reformation and analyses of key Lutheran texts--the Augsburg Confession, the Large Catechism, and others from the Book of Concord--from the lenses of freedom theology and a "Lutheran theological tradition [that] is about faith that is a live and changing matter" (Stjerna, 199).

Read for Lutheran Theology.