Theological Commonplaces (4 vols.)

by Johann Gerhard

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 2016–2020

Overview

The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard’s monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology.

Key Features

• Features the first-ever English translation of Johann Gerhard’s monumental Loci Theologici
• Combines profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture
• Contains a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms

On Good Works, vol. XX

• Author: Johann Gerhard
• Editors: Joshua J. Hayes and Aaron Jensen
• Translator: Richard J. Dinda
• Series: Theological Commonplaces
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 368

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

In this commonplace On Good Works, Johann Gerhard explores the proper place of good works in the life of a Christian, emphasizing that good works do not make a Christian righteous and saved, but they show that the person has become righteous and saved. Gerhard’s most significant interaction is with the Roman Catholic combination of God’s grace and human merit as contributing to salvation. His primary Catholic opponent, Robert Bellarmine, as well as the Council of Trent, sought to emphasize grace while still defending the idea that eternal life is given as wages owed to human good works. Although good works are necessary for many reasons (with respect to God, our neighbor, and ourselves), they are not necessary for salvation. Only Christ’s merit imputed to believers saves. Christians can and do perform good works, though these are imperfect and do not merit salvation. Gerhard also engages the Calvinist view that once a person is saved nothing can cause salvation to be lost. He clearly articulates the Lutheran understanding that neglect of good works and willfull sin will cast out faith and cause loss of salvation.

On Justification through Faith, vol. XIX

• Author: Johann Gerhard
• Editors: Joshua J. Hayes and Heath R. Curtis
• Translator: Richard J. Dinda
• Series: Theological Commonplaces
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 2018
• Pages: 552

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Originally published in 1613, On Justification through Faith presents Johann Gerhard’s classic voice on this crucial doctrine. While his theology is, in many respects, nothing new beyond what other Lutherans such as Martin Chemnitz said before him, his perspective is distinctively helpful to modern readers, especially in his dealing of topics not dealt with by previous theologians.

Gerhard’s basic position is that justification is a judicial term, and thus the appropriation of God’s grace through faith alone (justification) is not the transfer of divinity—of the essence of the God-man—or of any qualities (created or divine) from God to the believer, but instead it is a change of status before God. For Gerhard, justification is unthinkable without the real person of Christ being apprehended through faith.

On the Gospel and Repentance, vols. XVII-XVIII

• Author: Johann Gerhard
• Editors: Benjamin T. G. Mayes and Heath R. Curtis
• Translator: Richard J. Dinda
• Series: Theological Commonplaces
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 2016
• Pages: 405

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

This volume of Gerhard’s comprehensive exegetical-systematic theology presents two commonplaces.

On the Gospel defines the Gospel carefully as the proclamation of God’s promises and forgiveness of sins for the sake of Jesus Christ. Since confusions continually arise on the relationship of the Gospel to the text of the New Testament, Old Testament, and the Law of God, Gerhard carefully distinguishes Law from Gospel and explains how the Gospel is found in both testaments. Against the Roman Catholic idea of “supererogation,” Gerhard explains that Christ revealed the same moral Law as had been given in the Old Testament, but did not add to new laws that are supposedly optional for Christians.

On Repentance deals with salutary turning-away from sins, which Lutherans commonly define as including contrition (grief over sins committed) and faith in the promise of forgiveness for Christ’s sake. Much of this commonplace takes apart the Roman Catholic sacrament of Penance, defined as consisting of contrition, confession, and satisfaction, as well as the concept of indulgences that is bound up with this. At the same time, Gerhard supports and defends private, individual confession and absolution of Christians before their pastors as a practice fully in accord with Holy Scripture.

On the Resurrection of the Dead and On the Last Judgment, vols. XXX-XXXI

• Author: Johann Gerhard
• Editors: Joshua J. Hayes, Heath R. Curtis, and Aaron Jensen
• Translator: Richard J. Dinda
• Series: Theological Commonplaces
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 2020
• Pages: 592

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

The Gospels teach Christians to “Watch, stay awake and pray, for you do not know when the time is.” The question is who is to stay awake? If it’s Christians, why are they do stay awake? This Theological Commonplace looks at Gerhard’s stance in answering these questions, digging deep into the resurrection and Christ’s second coming. This edition focuses specifically on the onthamology, four truths of the resurrections, the proofs of judgment, and much more.

About Johann Gerhard

Johann Gerhard (October 17, 1582 – August 10, 1637) was a Lutheran church leader and Lutheran Scholastic theologian during the period of Orthodoxy.