As celebrations of the five-hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's initiation of the most dramatic reform movement in the history of Christianity approach, 47 essays by historians and theologians from 15 countries provide insight into the background and context, the content, and the impact of his way of thought. Nineteenth-century Chinese educational reformers, twentieth-century African and Indian social reformers, German philosophers and Christians of many traditions on every continent have found in Luther's writings stimulation and provocation for addressing modern problems. This volume offers studies of the late medieval intellectual milieus in which his thought was formed, the hermeneutical principles that guided his reading and application of the Bible, the content of his formulations of Christian teaching on specific topics, his social and ethic thought, the ways in which his contemporaries, both supporters and opponents, helped shape his ideas, the role of specific genre in developing his positions on issues of the day, and the influences he has exercised in the past and continues to exercise today in various parts of the world and the Christian church. Authors synthesize the scholarly debates and analysis of Luther's thinking and point to future areas of research and exploration of his thought.
Introduction: Luther s Thought and its role in the Twenty-First-Century Global Societies
I. Luther s Life
1. Luther s Life, Charlotte Methuen
II. The medieval background and origins of Luther s thought
2. Luther as Late Medieval Theologian: His Positive and Negative use of Nominalism and Realism, Theodor Dieter
3. Luther s roots in Monastic-Mystical piety, Volker Leppin
4. Luther and Medieval Reform Movements, Particularly the Hussites, Martin Wernisch
5. Luther s Absorption of Medieval Biblical Interpretation and His Use of the Church Fathers, Erik Herrmann
6. Humanism, Luther and the Wittenberg Reformation, Robert Rosin
7. Luther s Transformation of Medieval Thought: Discontinuity and Continuity, Gerhard Muller
8. Luther s Transformation of Medieval Thought: Continuity and Discontinuity, Volker Leppin
III. The hermeneutical principles that guided Luther s teaching and preaching
9. Luther on God and History, Mark Thompson
10. Luther s Use of Language, Johannes von Lupke
11. Luther s Theologia crucis, Vitor Westhelle
12. Luther s Hermeneutics of Distinctions: Law and Gospel, Two Kinds of Righteousness, Two Realms, Freedom and Bondage, Robert Kolb
IV. Luther s treatment of the traditional topics of western Christian theology
13. Luther Doctrine of God, Steven Paulson
14. Luther Theology of Creation, Johannes Schwanke
15. Luther s Anthropology, Notger Slenczka
16. Luther s Teaching on Sin and Evil, L ubomir Batka
17. Justification by Faith: The View of the Mannermaa School, Risto Saaarinen
18. Luther on Justification as Forensic and Effective, Mark Mattes
19. Luther on Christ s Person and Work, Mattheiu Arnold
20. Luther on the Holy Spirit and His Use of God s Word, Jeffrey Silcock
21. Luther on Baptism and Penance, Jonathan Trigg
22. Luther and the Lord s Supper, Gordon A. Jensen
23. Luther on the Church, David P. Daniel
24. Luther s Eschatology, Jane E. Strohl
V. Luther s view of sanctified living
25. The Framework for Christian Living: Luther on the Christian s Callings, Jane E. Strohl
26. Luther on Marriage, Sexuality and the Family, Jane E. Strohl
27. Luther s Treatment of Economic Life, Ricardo Rieth
28. Luther s Treatment of Political and Societal Life, Eike Wolgast
29. Piety, Prayer, and Worship in Luther s View of Daily Life, Carter Lindberg
30. Luther s Views of Jews and Turks, Gregory Miller
31. Luther as a Resource for Christian Dialogue with Other World Religions, Paul Rajashekar
VI. The genre in which Luther shaped his theology
32. The Influence of the Genre of Exegetical Instruction, Preaching, and Catechesis on Luther, Mary Jane Haemig
33. How Luther s Engagement in Pastoral Care Shaped Luther s Theology, Ronald K. Rittgers
34. Luther s Thought Assumed Form in Polemics, Anna Vind
35. Translation of Scripture and Hymns Shaped Luther s Theology, Christoph Burger
VI. The Impact and Reception of Luther's Thought in History and in the twenty-first Century
36. The Wittenberg circle, Timothy J. Wengert
37. Luther s Roman Catholic Critics, Heribert Smolinsky
38. Luther and the Schwarmer, Amy Nelson Burnett
39. Luther s Authority in the Late Reformation and Protestant Orthodoxy, Irene Dingel
40. The Use of Luther s Thought in Pietism and the Enlightenment, Paul R. Hinlicky
41. The Use of Luther s Thought in the Nineteenth Century and the Luther Renaissance, Heinrich Assel
42. Marxist Evaluations of Luther s Thought, Thomas A. Brady, Jr.
43. Roman Catholic Luther Research in the Twentieth Century: From Rejection to Rehabilitation, Theo M. M. A. C. Bell
44. Luther s Abiding Significance for World Protestantism, Kenneth G. Appold
45. Luther and Asia, Pilgrim W. K. Lo
46. Luther in Africa
47. Luther Studies in Latin America, Nestor Luiz Joao Beck
Conclusion: Venturing into the Study of Luther
Appendices: Sources and Resources, and Glossary