Martin Luther in His Own Words

Essential Writings of the Reformation

Though most of the Protestant world can trace its roots back to the Reformation, many people today have only a vague knowledge of Martin Luther's writings. "Didn't he write the Ninety-Five Theses?" Jack Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer step into this vacuum with a carefully selected collection of Luther's works.

Centered around the five solas of the Reformation (sola Scripturasola fidesola gratiasola Christussoli Deo gloria), the selections offer readers an accessible primer on works that are foundational to the theology of Protestantism in all its forms. Introductions to each writing include an explanation of the historical context and the theological significance of the piece. Students of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and seminary students will find this collection an enlightening introduction to Luther in his own words and a useful addition to their libraries.

Though most Protestants—approximately 900 million believers worldwide—trace their spiritual roots back to the Reformation, many people today have only a vague knowledge of Martin Luther's extensive writings. Jack Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer step into this vacuum with Martin Luther in His Own Words, a carefully selected collection of Luther's works.

Organized around the five solas of the Reformation (sola Scripturasola fidesola gratiasola Christussoli Deo gloria), the selections offer readers an accessible primer on works that are foundational to the theology of Protestantism in all its forms. An introduction to each writing includes an explanation of its historical context and theological significance.

Students of the Bible, pastors, teachers, and seminary students will find this collection an enlightening introduction to Luther in his own words and a useful addition to their libraries.

Excerpt:

Click here for an excerpt provided by Baker Books.

Reviews:Chris Woznicki, founding board member of Equipping the Church International and Ph.D. candidate on CWoznicki Think Out Loud wrote:

"If you don’t have time to sift through all of Luther’s works but want a good introduction you don’t need to look further than this book. If you are intimidated about picking up theological literature that was written 500 years ago, again look no further! The editors have included concise but extremely helpful introductions to each of the sections.

If you are a pastor who is looking for one place where you can get the best of Luther’s works – look here. If you are a Bible college student who has always been interested in Luther but doesn’t know where to start. Look here! Finally, if you would like to do some sort of small group discussion on the Reformation, this would be a great place to start. So look here!"

M.L. Codman-Wi, Ph.D. on Mary Lou's Reviews - Reviewing One Book Per Week wrote:

"Luther was a prolific writer, but [Kilcrease and Lutzer] focus theologically on Luther’s arguments with Catholic church doctrines and practices in his day....

Choosing a limited number of texts from Luther’s writings, along with their timing in Luther’s debate within his Catholic commitment, helps the lay reader understand Luther’s contribution and make sense of that contribution in its historical context. The subtitle of the book, therefore, Essential Writings of the Reformation, is an accurate description of the book’s focus and message. The struggle for “right” doctrine, the role of Scripture, and Biblical ecclesiology has enveloped the Christian church since its inception in Christ. Kilcrease and Lutzer’s book sheds significant light on one key phase of that struggle in the 1500’s."


The Doctrine of Atonement

From Luther to Forde

Post-Enlightenment theology has frequently rejected the historic Christian doctrine of substitutionary atonement. For theologians standing in the tradition of the Lutheran Confessions, rejection of substitutionary atonement is particularly problematic because it endangers the unconditional nature of the justification through faith. If one rejects vicarious satisfaction, then the only alternative is to make redemption dependent on what sinners do for themselves. In this study, Jack Kilcrease argues for substitutionary atonement within the perspective of what he calls the "Confessional Lutheran Paradigm." The author also critiques a wide variety of modern Lutheran theologians' understandings of atonement: Werner Elert, Gustaf Aulen, Gustaf Wingren, Robert Jenson, Eberhard Jungel, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Gerhard Forde. As Kilcrease demonstrates, although these authors often give many fine theological insights, their distortion or misrepresentation of the doctrine of atonement carriers over to a problematic understanding of law, gospel, and justification through faith.

Excerpt:

Click here for an excerpt provided by Wipf and Stock.

Reviews:David P. Scaer, Chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary wrote:

"Jack D. Kilcrease lays out the Lutheran teaching of the atonement beginning with the Reformer and discusses how his views on Christ’s death have been adjusted by leading theologians, most recently Gerhard Forde. Those aware of the current controversy will want to give careful attention to Kilcrease’s The Doctrine of Atonement. Hardly a peripheral issue, this is a ‘must’ read, especially for those who are new to the issue.”

Wade Johnston, Associate Professor of Theology, Wisconsin Lutheran College wrote:

"Kilcrease offers a helpful survey, succinct yet insightful, of historic Lutheran positions on the atonement as well as a walk through later revisions and challenges. Accessibly written, this is a good introduction for the uninitiated as well as a springboard for further study for those well-versed in theology."


The Self-Donation of God

A Contemporary Lutheran approach to Christ and His Benefits

In The Self-Donation of God, Jack Kilcrease argues that the speech-act of promise is always an act of self-donation. A person who unilaterally promises to another is bound to take a particular series of actions to fulfill that promise. Being that creation is grounded in God’s promising speech, the divine-human relationship is fundamentally one of divine self-donation and human receptivity. Sin disrupts this relationship and therefore redemption is constituted by a reassertion of divine promise of salvation in the face of the condemnation of the law (Gen 3:15). As a new and effective word of grace, the promise of a savior begins the process of redemption within which God speaks forth a new narrative of creation. In this new narrative, God gives himself in an even deeper manner to humanity. By donating himself through a promise, first to the protological humanity and then to Israel, he binds himself to them. At the end of this history of self-binding, God in Christ enters into the condemnation of the law, neutralizes it in the cross, and brings about a new creation through his omnipotent word of promise actualized in the resurrection.

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Excerpt:

Click here for an excerpt provided by Wipf and Stock.

Reviews:Mark Mattes, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Grand View University wrote:

“In this study, Jack Kilcrease offers a masterful, panoramic approach to Christology, thoroughly grounded in the Scriptures and in constant debate with the christological reflection of fellow Lutherans, the wider Catholic tradition, and modern and contemporary voices. All in all, this book testifies to the gospel as God’s triumph of grace in the world.”

John T. Pless, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, Concordia Theological Seminary wrote:

“Jack Kilcrease writes with clarity and precision; he is clearly at home in the classical primary sources (patristic writers, creedal and confessional documents, Luther, and the fathers of Lutheran orthodoxy). His methodology is marked by careful exegetical work and analysis, systematic exposition, and apologetic engagement. . . . Kilcrease writes as a classical and confessional Lutheran but with ecumenical awareness. The Self-Donation of God is comprehensive in scope and substance, dealing with all the loci associated with traditional christological discussions.”


Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation

The Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation is a comprehensive global study of the life and work of Martin Luther and the movements that followed him—in history and through today. Organized by a stellar advisory board of Luther and Reformation scholars, the encyclopedia features nearly five hundred entries that examine Luther’s life and impact worldwide. The two-volume set provides overviews of basics such as the 95 Theses as well as more complex topics such as reformational distinctions. Entries explore Luther’s contributions to theology, sacraments, his influence on the church and contemporaries, his character, and more. The work also discusses Luther’s controversies and topics such as gender, sexuality, and race. Publishing at the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, this is an essential reference work for understanding the Reformation and its legacy today.

Contributed entries: “Adiaphoristic Controversy,” “Antinomian Controversies,” “Crypto-Calvinistic Controversy,” “Flacian Controversy,” “Luther’s Views on the Incarnation,” “Lutheran Orthodoxy,” “Mystical Union” “Matthias Flacius Illyricus,” and “Philippism."

Reviews:Samuel Dubbelman, Assistant Professor of Church History at Lutheran Theological Seminary - Hong Kong on Reading Religion: A Publication of the American Academy of Religion wrote:

"Faced with piles of books on Luther, where should you begin? One of the best places to get acquainted with Luther and the field of Luther studies is now the two-volume Encyclopedia of Martin Luther and the Reformation (EMLAR)....

EMLAR is an impressive accomplishment of some of the best scholars working on the Reformation today. I highly recommend it not only as an introduction to Luther, but also for a general orientation on why people are still interested in Luther today."