Lutheran Theology (Doing Theology)

by Steven D. Paulson

Publisher:

Bloomsbury

, 2011

Overview

This title offers an introduction for students and lay readers to doing theology in the Lutheran tradition. Lutheran theology found its source, and so its name, in Martin Luther in the sixteenth century. The theology that emerged identified two essential matters for the relationship between humans and God, the law and the gospel. It made a simple but extremely unusual and controversial claim—that it was not the law that made a person right before God’s final judgment, but the gospel of Christ’s death on the cross for sinners. This book will lay out the implications of having all theology confessed and delivered in two parts: the sinner and God (the justifier).

Contents

Top Highlights

“Lutheran theology begins not as an attack on our lack of knowledge of the good, it is attacking the good itself along with the hearts of righteous people who ‘proving themselves to be wise, became fools’ (Rom 1:22). The first task of theology is to witness to sin and make it great, so great that it kills.” (Page 1)

“We are creatures whose Creator needs no justification. Nevertheless, this Creator seeks justification in his words given to sinners (Psalm 51 and Romans 3). But there are two separate justifications. The first justifies according to the law (which holds among humans awhile), but does not suffice before God—indeed that law was used to kill God’s only begotten Son when he came into the world. The second kind of justification is Christ who gives himself to his opponents in the form of a simple promise: I forgive you. These two justifications are called law and gospel, and distinguishing them is the Lutheran passion on earth. The slogan of this way of doing theology is: The Law!… until Christ! (Galatians 3:4). God justifies himself by justifying sinners in a simple word.” (Page 5)

“The whole Lutheran argument is the work of distinguishing between law and gospel, in a way that the legal scheme does not allow because Lutherans assert that there are two kinds of righteousness, both from God, with only one that stands before God.” (Page 5)

“Lutheran theology starts where all others end. Virtue is not the goal of life, virtue is our problem. Religion is not given for morality; it is there to end it. The picture of progress upward to happiness is toppled, and in its stead is the apocalyptic end of righteousness in this world so that only Christ remains, who alone is righteous in the eyes of God.” (Page 2)

Product Details

• Author: Stephen D. Paulson
• Series: Doing Theology
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication Date: 2011
• Pages: 304

About Steven D. Paulson

Steven D. Paulson is professor of systematic theology at Luther House of Study, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.