Tag Archives: Luther
Older posts Newer postsFrom Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians (1535)
“Christ is innocent so far as His own Person is concerned; therefore He should not have been hanged from the tree. But because, according to the Law, every thief should have been hanged, therefore, according to the Law of Moses, … Continue reading
Florence as Luther Saw It
We must count among the dozen or so people in the past half-millennium who have come to Florence not for the art or culture but only and expressly to see what Luther saw. Ah well, this is the life of … Continue reading
Under the Tuscan Fog
Marion and Jonathan both joined us this morning as we headed out along the levies from Ponte a Cappiano, accompanied by a swarm of mosquitos, many of which were the black-and-white striped anopheles mosquitos that once upon a time carried … Continue reading
Luther on Word, Sacraments, and Worship
From Luther’s First Lectures on the Psalms (1513–1515), Psalm 68: “[N]ote that the strength of Scripture is this, that it is not changed into him who studies it, but that it transforms its lover into itself and its strengths… It is … Continue reading
An Interview with Theodor Dieter, Lutheran Ecumenist
Tell us how you became an ecumenist. First: When I was a student of Protestant theology and philosophy I studied twice the magisterial book The Theology of Justification in Martin Luther and Thomas Aquinas by the Catholic theologian Otto Hermann … Continue reading
Grape Must and Whiffs of Vinegar
It was a harrowing exit from town. I remain astonished at what is considered a legitimate hiking route on the Via Francigena. The Alpine club routes are great, but the highways-with-no-shoulder are a nightmare. On the other hand, fear for … Continue reading
From Martin Luther’s “A Simple Way to Pray”
“First, when I feel that I have become cool and joyless in prayer because of other tasks or thoughts (for the flesh and the devil always impede and obstruct prayer), I take my little psalter, hurry to my room, or, … Continue reading
Luther on How to Become a Theologian
From his “Preface to the German Writings” (1539): “I want to point out to you a correct way of studying theology… This is the way taught by holy King David (and doubtlessly used also by all the patriarchs and prophets) in … Continue reading
Some Thoughts on Luther and the Jews
Late in his life, Martin Luther said some truly appalling things about Jews, and suggested that appalling things be done to them. This was certainly Luther at his worst, demonizing those who disagreed with him, much as he had done … Continue reading
Some Thoughts on Saints
We’re a few days away from Milan, where St. Augustine finally became a Christian, and the day after we’ll overnight in Pavia, home to some relics of St. Augustine… which prompts some thoughts on saints. It’s one of the more … Continue reading
From Martin Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation, 1518
“19. That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the invisible things of God as though they were clearly perceptible in those things which have actually happened [Rom. 1:20]. “20. He deserves to be called a … Continue reading
Navigating a Pilgrimage
Toward the end of our preparations, we were lucky to have some help in identifying Luther’s route to Rome–one that changed our original prospective route along the Santiago de Compostela for the first few days to go through Ilmenau and … Continue reading
Crossing the Alps with Nothing but a Cloak, Staff, and Sandals
The people of the Middle Ages were not fond of mountains. It takes a leisured class with energy to waste and life to spend to appreciate inaccessible rocks where nothing grows, places where it is always cold and snowy and … Continue reading
Rustic Brown
It’s hard to imagine, assaulted as we are by bright colors and flashing screens, the dullness of life in Luther’s era. No, there was plenty of character. But there were also lots of browns, grays, and greens. Flowers lightened up … Continue reading
From Luther’s Commentary on the Magnificat
Mary “had no thought but this: if any other maiden had got such good things from God, she would be just as glad and would not grudge them to her; indeed, she regarded herself alone as unworthy of such honor … Continue reading →