Law and Protestantism
The Legal Teachings of the Lutheran Reformation

This book investigates the relationship between the law and religious ideology in Luther's Germany.

John Witte (Author), Martin E. Marty (Foreword by)

9780521781329, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 May 2002

360 pages, 7 b/w illus.
23.7 x 15.8 x 2.8 cm, 0.68 kg

'Undoubtedly the book by John Witte Junior is an extremely erudite and thorough analysis of the legal teachings of the Lutheran Reformation. I have learnt an enormous amount from reading it and highly recommend it to both lawyers and theologians who are interested in the Reformation and indeed thinking about the links between law and theology.' Evangelical Quarterly

The Lutheran Reformation of the early sixteenth century brought about immense and far-reaching change in the structures of both church and state, and in both religious and secular ideas. This book investigates the relationship between the law and religious ideology in Luther's Germany, showing how they developed in response to the momentum of Lutheran teachings and influence. Profound changes in the areas of education, politics and marriage were to have long-lasting effects on the Protestant world, inscribed in the legal systems inherited from that period. John Witte, Jr. argues that it is not enough to understand the Reformation either in theological or in legal terms alone but that a perspective is required which takes proper account of both. His book should be essential reading for scholars and students of church history, legal history, Reformation history, and in adjacent areas such as theology, ethics, the law, and history of ideas.

Foreword Martin E. Marty
Introduction
1. Canon law and civil law on the eve of the Reformation
2. Loving thine enemy's law: the evangelical conversion of Catholic canon law
3. A mighty fortress: Luther and the two-kingdoms framework
4. Perhaps jurists are good Christians after all: Lutheran theories of law, politics, and society
5. From gospel to law: the Lutheran reformation laws
6. The mother of all earthly laws: the reformation of marriage law
7. The civic seminary: the reformation of education law
Concluding reflections.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM]