Luther’s Works, vol. 61: Theological and Polemical Works

by Martin Luther

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 2021

Overview

Luther’s theological writings, perhaps without exception, arise from controversy or address it. For him there could be no building up of right teaching about God, humanity, the world, angels and devils without at the same time removing false teaching about all these things. Nowhere is this more clear than in the selection of short works included here. Spanning nearly his entire career as a reformer, this volume presents a variety of Luther’s theological and polemical writings from 1522 to his last days in 1546.

Thoroughly researched and faithfully translated, the Luther’s Works series consists of Martin Luther’s Bible commentaries, sermons, prefaces, postils, disputations, and letters—translated and published in English for the first time.

Praise for the Print Edition

Among the greatest and most prolific theologians of Christian history, Martin Luther still speaks to us today. This 28-volume new series splendidly complements its 55-volume predecessor and offers a treasure-trove of writings never before available in English, writings crucial to understanding Luther’s life, thought, and profound influence throughout the centuries. Offering readable yet reliable translations, well introduced and appropriately annotated, this new series should delight scholars as well as engage laity and clergy.

—Mark U. Edwards, Jr., Academic Dean, Harvard Divinity School

Luther’s analysis of human life and his proclamation of God’s merciful deliverance of humankind from sin and evil through Christ ring true across the cultural boundaries of time and space. This supplement to the historic edition of the reformer’s writings, completed a quarter century ago, is bringing significant additions to the texts from his pen than are currently available in English. It will also provide English-language readers access to documents that aid in understanding Luther’s own life and the development of the Wittenberg Reformation. The volumes are being edited according to the highest academic standards and their introductions and notes offer readers helpful guides to the context and content of the reformer’s writings. Casual readers and those seeking to expand and deepen their knowledge of the Reformation will profit greatly from these carefully translated and edited volumes.

—Robert Kolb, Missions Professor of Systematic Theology, and Director of the Institute for Mission Studies, Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis

Concordia Publishing House is providing a tremendous service to historians, theologians, pastors, and students by producing these new translations of Luther’s works. The editors have chosen key texts for illustrating Luther’s life and thought, from his earliest works to the biographies written soon after his death. The volumes devoted to Luther’s sermons, lectures, and disputations are especially welcome, because they will give English readers a more complete picture of Luther the preacher and professor.

—Amy Nelson Burnett, Professor of History, University of Nebraska—Lincoln

Product Details

• Title: Luther’s Works, Volume 61
• Author: Martin Luther
• Series: Luther’s Works
• Volume: 61
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 540
• Era: era:reformation
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Theology › Early works to 1800; Lutheran Church › Doctrines--History--16th century--Sources; Lutheran Church › Doctrines
• ISBNs: 9780758613905, 0758613903
• Resource ID: LLS:LW61
• Resource Type: text.monograph.collected-work
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-01-07T23:39:45Z

About Martin Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546), one of the most significant figures in Western history, was a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Over the course of his life, Luther was a monk, a priest, a professor of biblical literature, a Reformer, a husband, and a father.

Luther is most noted for his Ninety-Five Theses (1517), in which he argued that indulgences were not acts of penance which could replace true repentance. His refusal to retract all his writings, demanded by Pope Leo X in 1520 and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Worms in 1521, resulted in his excommunication by the pope and condemnation as an outlaw by the emperor.

Luther has been both praised and vilified for what he preached and wrote. Luther’s translation of the Christian Bible into the vernacular greatly influenced the church. His works continue to impact all Christians and animate the movement that bears his name. Luther’s Works (55 vols.) contains many of Luther’s writings, including commentaries, sermons, and lectures.

Sample Pages from Luther’s Works, vol. 61: Theological and Polemical Works