Luther's Spirituality (Classics of Western Spirituality) [Paperback]

Martin Luther (Author), Philip D. W. Krey (Editor), Peter D. S. Krey (Editor), Timothy J. Wengert (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2007 | Series: Classics of Western Spirituality

This volume in the Classics of Western Spirituality offers a unique selection of texts, some newly translated, by Martin Luther. These texts represent the varieties of ways Luther understood how one believed and behaved as a Christian.

This comprehensive collection includes both his critique of late medieval spiritualities that he inherited and his various constructive proposals. The book is designed for the reader to discover the rich complex of issues that Luther contributes to the discussion of spirituality.

The collection is divided into three sections of fresh and modified translations: Luther's Spirituality in a Late-Medieval Context, Teaching the New Spirituality, and The New Path to Prayer which also includes various songs. The volume includes Luther's spiritual classics like the German edition of the Freedom of a Christian, the Magnificat, The Sermon at Coburg on Cross and Suffering, letters of consolation, biblical prefaces and commentaries like Psalm 117 and 118, a Simple Way to Pray, and selections from the Large Catechism. There is nothing like it on the market.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Philip D. W. Krey is the President and Ministerium of New York Professor of Early and Medieval Church History at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He received his PhD in medieval church history and theology at the University of Chicago.

Peter D.S. Krey, who holds a M Div from Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, OH, teaches religion, ethics, and philosophy at community colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area especially at Vista Community College, Berkeley, CA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809139499
• ISBN-13: 978-0809139491
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,073,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Martin Luther (1483-1546) initiated the Protestant Reformation. As a priest and theology professor, he confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his The Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. Luther strongly disputed their claim that freedom from God's punishment of sin could be purchased with money. His refusal to retract all of his writings at the demand of Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Edict of Worms meeting in 1521 resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the emperor. Martin Luther taught that salvation is not from good works, but a free gift of God, received only by grace through faith in Jesus as redeemer from sin. His theology challenged the authority of the pope of the Roman Catholic Church by teaching that the Bible is the only source of divinely revealed knowledge and opposed sacerdotalism by considering all baptised Christians to be a holy priesthood. Those who identify with Luther's teachings are called Lutherans. His translation of the Bible into the language of the people (instead of Latin) made it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church and on German culture. It fostered the development of a standard version of the German language, added several principles to the art of translation, and influenced the translation into English of the King James Bible. His hymns inspired the development of singing in churches. His marriage to Katharina von Bora set a model for the practice of clerical marriage, allowing Protestant priests to marry.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Collection of Luther's Pastoral Works, April 12, 2008

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Paul T. McCain "Paul T. McCain" (St. Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Luther's Spirituality (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Hardcover)

I am enjoying this collection. My only regret is the imposition of an alien form of language on Luther: inclusive language. I would prefer simply to read what the original author wrote, not what a translator believes he should have said.

But this is a good overview collection, with resources in it not available elsewhere.