Indulgences Then and Now

The events of October 31st 1517, the day that Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, were not set in motion by a man’s ambitious vision to revolutionize the spirituality of the west. Nor were they set in motion by Luther’s iconoclastic vainglory that sought to topple the ancient powers of tradition and the papacy. Rather, Luther swung his hammer as a pastor. He cared for the eternal welfare of his flock.

Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 3:1-6

In the second article of the Augsburg Confession, Lutherans confess, “It is also taught among us that since the fall of Adam all men who are born according to the course of nature are conceived and born in sin...

Smalcald Articles Study: The First and Chief Article

Ask yourself: If you were writing your final testimony about the Christian faith, what would you identify as the first and chief article? The answer to the question reveals what lies at the heart of anyone’s understanding of God and Christianity. Luther’s answer is...

Luther’s Invocavit Sermons, Part 3 – Faith and Love, Must and Free

Luther’s emphasis on heeding the call to love and patience is insistent in these sermons. It even impacts that essential distinction between the “musts” and the “free.” Luther can see that even in the things which are “musts” and are matters of necessity, such as believing in Christ, love nevertheless never uses force or undue constraint.

Bible Study with Luther: Genesis 2

A key teaching of the Reformation is Luther’s understanding of the three estates established and instituted by God: the church, the home, and the state.

Lutherans and Roman Catholics Today

If you think about theological error like the course of a ship, a little variance in the direction of the ship can have immense effects on the final trajectory toward the destination.

Luther on the Transfiguration

To consider Christ’s glorious Transfiguration on its own is eye-opening; to hear how Luther describes this glory as yours nearly bursts the eyes from their sockets, bringing hope to the Christian heart.

The Table of Duties in the Small Catechism

When Martin Luther prepared the text of the Small Catechism, he included a list of duties that people in various callings and stations in life have, as both a command and blessing from God.

Formula of Concord Study: Article XI

The last single-issue article of the Formula of Concord, Article XI is unique in that it was largely preemptive. While acknowledging that no major struggle had yet erupted over this article of faith...