becoming

Anson asked in his comments about my view of Luther’s theology. My reply keeps growing and so I put it here as post instead. 

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Not sure the background of the website you linked. But traditionally, people don’t usually link Rom 5:1-2 to Luther’s theology (although that’s an important text in Reconciliation theology). Rom 1:16-17 is what Luther said that changed his theology from the medieval focus on good deeds to the emphasis on God’s grace.

Before his lectures on Romans, one can already find traces of the protestant thoughts in Luther’s first lecture series on Psalm (1513-1515).

When studying Luther’s theology, we must put things back in context. First he lived in the medieval times. We can not assume that he is our contemporaries. Secondly, we are talking about a period in church history where people had strong guilt about their lives, and many were living their daily lives in fear that they will lost their salvation with a tiny mistake in their lives. I think we are, in a sense, living in the other side of the pendulum right now.

Recently research also argues if Luther read Paul correctly. One can argue that he misread Paul by equating medieval church focuses on works with Jewish focuses on the Law, and hence reading his issues into the text (see J Dunn, NT Wright), but we can also view that as Luther trying to make sense out of the gospel in his context and times.

All in all, I think Luther’s theology is something we must always turn back to again and again. I find it especially true when Evangelicals at times look really like the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law in NT. Don’t take for granted what others say about Luther. Read it yourself. Knowing that we comes from the protestant tradition (although Anglicanism started off with a heavy dose of Calvin than anybody else), what we know for sure right now about our faith is only because of great Christians like Luther, Calvin and Zwingli.

To begin with, you can read:

1. An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation Concerning the Reform of the Christian Estate
2. Prelude On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church
3. On the Freedom of a Christian (you might want to start with this first)

Hope this helps.

Oh, for chinese literature on Luther’s theology, you can read:

1. 林鴻信，覺醒中的自由–路德神學精要
2. 楊慶球，馬丁路德神學研究