Loci Communes 1543

by Philipp Melanchthon

Publisher:

Concordia Publishing House

, 1992

Overview

An English translation of the Loci Communes 1543, this was the first theological textbook produced during Luther’s lifetime. It teaches Christian doctrine in a clear, concise manner and is the basis for Chemnitz’s Loci Theologici. Melanchthon addressed issues important to his day and ours, including the nature of God, creation, sin, free will, Law and Gospel, justification, sanctification, the church, and the Sacraments.

In the Logos edition of Loci Communes 1543, you get easy access to Scripture texts and to a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Hovering over Scripture references links you instantly to the verse you’re looking for, and with Passage Guides, Word Studies, and a wealth of other tools from Logos, you can delve into God’s Word like never before!

Key Features

• Preface by the translator
• Letter to the reader from the author
• Appendixes

Contents

Top Highlights

“God begins and draws us by His Word and the Holy Spirit, but it is necessary for us to hear and learn, that is, to take hold of the promise and assent to it, not to fight against it or be hesitant and filled with doubt.” (Page 173)

“Therefore Augustine, although he is harsh in this disputation, yet in a book on predestination and grace writes thus: ‘God aids those who accept with appropriate piety the gift of His call and [who], to the extent that it is in man’s power, help preserve in themselves the gifts of God.’” (Page 174)

“He says, ‘He has chosen us in Christ,’ in order that He may teach us that the cause of our election is not our own worthiness, but Christ, so that we do not consider our election apart from Christ and the Gospel, but always seek the cause of our election in the promise of Christ.” (Page 174)

“And when we are guided by His Word, we meet the three causes of good works, namely, the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the human will which assents to and does not contend against the Word of God. For the will could disregard the Word of God, as Saul did of his own free will. But when the mind, hearing and sustaining itself, does not resist or indulge in hesitation, but with the aid of the Holy Spirit tries to assent, in this contest the will is not idle.” (Page 43)

“So also regarding our election, we must judge from the effects (a posteriori), that is, there is absolutely no doubt that the elect are those who in faith take hold of God’s mercy, which has been promised for the sake of Christ, and who never give up this confidence.” (Page 173)

Product Details

• Title: Loci Communes 1543
• Author: Philip Melanchthon
• Translator: J. A. O. Preus
• Publisher: Concordia
• Publication Date: 1992
• Pages: 259

About Philipp Melanchthon

Philipp Melanchthon (February 16, 1497 – April 19, 1560), born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems. He stands next to Luther and Calvin as a reformer, theologian, and molder of Protestantism. As much as Luther, he is the primary founder of Lutheranism.