MARTIN LUTHER

by B. Drewery Gordon Rupp

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Genres: History, Nonfiction, Religion

Paperback

Published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of Luther's ideas particularly around theology. The book sets out the particular differences of Luther that set the course for the Reformation and how indulgences and later the necessity of salvation through grace alone as set out by Paul in Romans put Luther at odds with Catholicism. It reminds me of a quote from the book A History of Christianity that the Reformation was Augustine's theology against Augustine's church. It also shows the darker side of Luther's views such as his views of the Peasants' Rebellion which he criticised severely, leading to Lutheranism being associated with Conservative Nationalism of Germany which culminated with Nazism. This book demonstrates the complexity of Luther as a person and his profound impact on the modern world through the Reformation.

[Trevor Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, now 50 years old, was part of a series "Documents of Modern History" and is a slim volume of just 180 pages. The editors have done an admirable job of locating documents (in short excerpts) and letters to illustrate the life and controversies of the medieval monk turned protestant reformer. The letters in particular are well chosen to show his state of mind at many crucial periods. The excerpts give a taste of Luther's writing, and anyone wanting to seriously study the man would need to go on to read some of these documents complete.
It is most definitely a work of history and not of theology. For instance, of the Small Catechism, there is just the exposition of the creed, omitting the explanations of the ten commandments, which generations of children were taught to recite by heart. For theology, one would need to look elsewhere, for example a good modern translation of the Large Catechism. My one criticism of the book is that the section titled "Doctrine of the Church" mostly consists of chatty letters to Katherine, his wife, in the last weeks of his life. I'm not sure if the editors were trying to suggest that he had no doctrine of the church, but it won't be found in these letters!

[Zeke Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

A helpful book in so far as it includes the writings of Luther as well as the writings of his surrounding context. It gives a good grasp of the sporadic and inflammatory nature of Luther's unfortunate context.

It is not helpful for a mind still trying to grapple with doctrinal truth, as Luther's writing is (perhaps not to his own fault) often hasty and not very well put together.