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Luther in Context

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There are Social Historians and there are Intellectual Historians. It is a sad thing that people today seems to prefer the findings of the Social Historians over the Intellectual Historians. For example, the Reformation is today analysed by many from the perspectives of economic pressures, political climate and social conditioning when the most crucial perspective of analysis should be centered upon the "Battle of Ideas".

This book seeks to do just that. Steinmetz shows Luther as someone born to Theology as much as Bach was born to Music! More than that, Steinmetz's Luther is a fighter - a wrestler! Like Jacob of old, here we see Luther contending with his "contemporaries" - by that I mean the characters and ideas that more than any social concerns or pressures occupied his thoughts and demanded an appropriate response. We see Luther versus Abraham, Luther versus Isaiah, Luther versus Paul, Luther versus Augustine, Luther versus Ockham, Luther versus Erasmus and ultimately we see Luther versus himself and Luther versus God!

In short, we see Luther's beliefs as the product of conflict/crisis - much unlike the convenient/functional sort we see in many today. Reading this book allows me to see many Lutheran doctrines with far greater clarity than ever - e.g. the Hidden God, the Bondage of the Will, etc. I see Luther as someone like Jacob in the Book of Genesis holding on to the LORD, clinging on for his dear life! Then I see Luther limping away after his fights... a better man, a defeated man, a victorious man, a rebel and a worshipper. Israel.

Read Althaus' "Theology of Martin Luther" as your primer on Lutheranism. Then read this book to see everything in clearer perspective and context. I dare you to remain cool and disinterested after experiencing these vigorous battles of the mind and spirit.

David Steinmetz brings an excellent study with "Luther In Context" (2002). This 195-page paperback offers 20 pages of informative endnotes and a helpful 7-page index. Steinmetz writes authentic Luther!

Steinmetz brings a very readable style presenting a fresh new look at the originator of the Protestant Reformation. The book is replete with Luther theology (from salvation by grace alone, to only Scripture, to virtue arrives only through grace). Luther is diligently compared to Aquinas, Pelagians, Occamists and Anabaptists (and found superior to each). The book's discussions range from Augustinian doctrines that influenced Luther's early thinking, to the Zwinglian controversies that required Luther's later response (Luther strongly disliked the militant Protestant Ulrich Zwingli), to Luther's own commentary on Scripture (bringing, for me, his best Protestant effort).

Steinmetz teaches the great Reformer's reasons for translating Scripture form Latin into German. We discover Luther's "Two Kingdoms" for 16th century political theory. The author submits chapter 9- "Luther and the Drunkenness of Noah"- to effectively demonstate how Brother Martin went about Scriptural exegesis.

Perhaps Steinmetz makes his best effort with chapter 8- "Luther and Calvin on Church and Tradition". This is a brilliant presentation hosting Luther and Calvin together. We hear of the brief theological inter-play between the two Reformation icons (Luther was almost two generations older than Calvin). Steinmetz's account makes one wish for a presence during the Luther-Calvin 1539 conversation.

This book is recommended to all students of the Reformation, Luther readers, students of Church history and those curious about Martin Luther. Amazon.com's price is good, order yours soon.

thank you, this book was very clean and unmarked. I will purchase more from this company in the future.