Martin Luther

This course is an introduction to the life and writings of the great German reformer, Martin Luther. There are 20 lectures totaling approximately 18 hours. These lectures were given at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Recommended reading:

Luther: Man Between God and the Devil, Heiko Oberman

Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings, Timothy Lull, ed.

Bondage of the Will, Martin Luther, J. I. Packer & O. R. Johnston, trans.

Martin Luther's Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development, Bernhard Lohse

Introduction

1. Introduction	Introduction to the life and theology of Martin Luther.
2. About Reading Luther	Luther expressed his views in a way that was shaped by his theology and the culture.
3. His Life and Times	Martin Luther was born in Germany in the late 15th century, just after Guttenberg developed his printing press.
4. The 95 Theses	When Martin Luther posted the 95 theses, his intention was to discuss and debate the misuse of indulgences, but it was interpreted by the church heirarchy as an attack on the power of the papacy.

Luther's Theology

5. The Task of Theology	Luther's writings demonstrate his ability to understand and articulate issues that are at the core of the nature of God and man. His theology is distinct from philosophy and consists of many comments on passages in Psalms and Romans.
6. The Freedom of a Christian	Faith alone justifies. By faith the Christian is made to love God, therefore a person does good works because they cannot remain idle.
7. Luther's Theology of the Cross	The work of Christ when he allowed himself to be crucified on the cross, teaches us about God's nature, our nature and our relationship to God.
8. Luther's Approach to Scripture	Luther's fourfold sense of scripture focused on historical (literal), allegorical (figurative), tropological (moral), and anagogic (future).
9. Christ and the Atonement	Luther's view of the atonement differs from classical views taught during his time and view held by the scholastic tradition.
10. Justification by Faith	Luther's teaching on justification by faith is central to his theology.
11. The Bondage of the Will	Theology of the cross assumes bondage and moves to freedom.
12. Luther on Predestination	Four positions on predestination include the Calvinist, neo-Protestant, intuitu fidei, and Gnesio-Lutherans.
13. Luther on Law and Gospel	Luther's commentary on Galatians is an attempt to set "Law" in its proper setting.

Luther on the Sacraments

14. The Promise of the Sacraments	The sacraments are an external expression of an internal reality.
15. Luther on Baptism	Luther's teachings on the importance of baptism and arguments for infant baptism.
16. Luther on Christ's Supper	Luther's view of the theological and personal significance of the Lord's Supper.

Luther on the Church

17. Luther's Doctrine of the Two Kingdoms	The kingdom of God and secular government have areas of unity and areas of differences.
18. Luther's View of the Church	Luther gives a definition of the church and describes characteristics of the church.

Conclusion

19. Luther and the Small Catechism	Luther developed a catechism to help people focus on the foundational beliefs of the Christian faith.
20. Luther for Evangelicals	Martin Luther's writings can encourage people to pursue their relationship with God on a deeper level.

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Martin Luther