The Large Catechism of Martin Luther [Hardcover]

Martin Luther (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 1988

By 1529, the year of publication of Luther's Large Catechism, parishioners took the Gospel for granted. Many had forgotten at what great peril the freedom of their faith had been won. In the Large Catechism Luther set out to inculcate the centrality of the Gospel that was largely neglected and whose freedom was frequently abused. Whether Luther is therefore dealing with the Ten Commandments or the Lord's Supper, the dynamic of the Word of God as Gospel provides the cutting edge for what he says. To obscure the Gospel is to lose everything; to illuminate it is to gain all it promises. But it is not a Gospel with a purely individualistic thrust. To risk all for the Gospel is to relate one's self to society and the Christian community. And it is this corporate dimension of the Gospel, involving him who believes all to serve all, which gives Luther's exposition of the basic ingredients of the Christian faith such significance and relevance. Therefore the Large Catechism is a primary source for an understanding of the Christian ethos in action in Reformation Christianity. The Gospel is particularized. The social situation comes alive in concrete terms in a language whose meaning is unmistakable and clear.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Author:

"Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 February 18, 1546) was a German monk, theologian, and church reformer. He is also considered to be the founder of Protestantism.

Luther's theology challenged the authority of the papacy by holding that the Bible is the sole source of religious authority and that all baptized Christians are a general priesthood. According to Luther, salvation was attainable only by faith in Jesus as the Messiah, a faith unmediated by the church. These ideas helped to inspire the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western civilization.

Luther's translation of the Bible into the German vernacular, making it more accessible to ordinary people, had a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. The translation also 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.
Luther is also known for his writings about the Jews, the nature and consequences of which are the subject of scholarly debate. His statements that Jews' homes should be destroyed, their synagogues burned, money confiscated, and liberty curtailed, were revived and given widespread publicity by the Nazis in Germany in 1933 45. As a result of this and his revolutionary theological views, his legacy remains controversial." (Quote from wikipedia.org) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 116 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (May 6, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800608852
• ISBN-13: 978-0800608859
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,192,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Every Lutheran Should Read Again and Again, August 24, 2000

By 

Good Bye - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Large Catechism of Martin Luther (Hardcover)

This is one of those books of which all too many Lutherans have heard but that far too few have read. I myself must admit that although I was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church, I had not read the Large Catechism until just recently. Upon finishing it, I asked myself why I had not done so years ago, as it would have saved me much trouble.

The Large Catechism is Martin Luther's summary of his own teachings. He wrote the catechism for one simple reason - to remind the infant Lutheran Church of the things for which they stood and to advise them as to how they should live and worship. His explanations are clear and straight-forward. He is remarkably blunt at times, not being a man fond of euphemism, in his admonition for a godly life against a worldly one. Yet at no time does he profess the necessity of leaving the world to follow God. It is his contention that one only need live by God's commandments and everything will work out in the end. It is this down to earth, common sense theology that made Luther, and from him the Protestant Reformation, so successful.

Reading Luther, it is easy to see how people were drawn to his ideas. After centuries of clerical obscurantism, endless canonical laws and regulations, papal pronouncements, and a host of other arcana, a theology that can be summed up as "Love God, follow his commandments in your actions as well as in your hearts, observe the sacraments of baptism and communion, and seek comfort in the Word of God" must have been a breath of fresh air to the beleaguered people of Germany.

Luther's commentary upon the commandments is both helpful and enlightening. He admonishes those who would think they have heard or thought all they need to think again. Often, he will surprise you with an observation so clear and true that you will wonder why you never thought of it yourself. It is from this experience that you then realize that his admonition against thinking you know it all proves itself.

While the book is recommended to all Christians, indeed, to anyone for that matter, it is especially recommended to Lutherans. For too long we have forgotten the roots of our faith. We need to refresh our memories as to who we are and what we believe, and most importantly why we believe it. Read not only the Large Catechism, but the Augsburg Confessions, the 95 Theses, the Table Talk... for that matter, get a copy of the Book of Concord (of which a new edition has just been published) and read it through. You may discover that you are part of a denomination you have never really known. Take my word for it, you will reap the benefits of your labors.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and Poignant, February 16, 2004

By 

"theologicalscholar" (Providence College and Seminary) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Large Catechism of Martin Luther (Hardcover)

Luther's large catechism is an invaluable primary text for protestant studies. This book outlines the points of Christianity that Luther deems fundamental, and in Luther's own words you read how the father of the reformation viewed the Christian life. It is a short read, and well worth the time for the insight into the times and thought that birthed Lutheranism and the reformation.

5.0 out of 5 stars Luther's Large Catechism, January 15, 2012

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pansypen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is easy to read and understand. It is concise and practical for anyone seeking insight into Luther's teaching of God's Word. I highly recommend this book to those who are new to their faith in God or want to expand from the shorter catechism.