Apology of the Augsburg Confession

by Philipp Melanchthon

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, History, Religion

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Philipp Melanchthon (16 February 1497 – 19 April 1560), born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems. He stands next to Luther and Calvin as a reformer, theologian, and molder of Protestantism. Along with Luther, he is the primary founder of Lutheranism.[1] They both denounced what they believed was the exaggerated cult of the saints, asserted justification by faith, and denounced the coercion of the conscience in the sacrament of penance by the Catholic Church, that they believed could not offer certainty of salvation. Melanchthon made the distinction between law and gospel the central formula for Lutheran evangelical insight. By the "law", he meant God's requirements both in Old and New Testament; the "gospel" meant the free gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Utterly magnificent. This response to the Confutation of the Augsburg Confession does more than simply address concerns: it reviews each point, in turn, of the Augsburg Confession and explains the theological reasoning behind it. Thus, it presents a thorough analysis of the Lutheran faith. Any Christian, regardless of denomination, can find value here. The heart of this book—the main point, as it were—is that we are saved entirely by Christ's merit and not at all by our own. It's an important book for understanding the history of the Protestant movement, but its greatest power lies in the spiritual consolation it offers its readers. I read the translation by Charles Arand, and the prose is excellent: clear, solid, and strong. If this book is long, it only because Melanchthon takes time to address each point with a high degree of care and attention. The result is a powerful defense of the Lutheran doctrines, an emphasis on our need for the Savior, and a balm for troubled souls.

[Josué Roque]

Long but insightful. I am starting to love Philip Melanchthon.