Martin Luther in Context

There are hosts of books on Luther, but none do what this book does: explore the world around Luther in order to make the man and his movement more understandable.

David M. Whitford (Edited by)

9781316606858, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 April 2023

441 pages, 9 b/w illus.
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.712 kg

'Whitford … brought together a sterling team of Reformation specialists to produce this volume, which offers a comprehensive topical introduction to Martin Luther and his world … This book will be a fine reference resource as well as a readable introduction to Luther and the world that shaped him.' M. A. Granquist, Choice

Martin Luther remains a popular, oft-quoted, referenced, lauded historical figure. He is often seen as the fulcrum upon which the medieval turned into the modern, the last great medieval or the first great modern; or, he is the Protestant hero, the virulent anti-Semite; the destroyer of Catholic decadence, or the betrayer of the peasant cause. An important but contested figure, he was all of these things. Understanding Luther's context helps us to comprehend how a single man could be so many seemingly contradictory things simultaneously. Martin Luther in Context explores the world around Luther in order to make the man and the Reformation movement more understandable. Written by an international team of leading scholars, it includes over forty short, accessible essays, all specially commissioned for this volume, which reconstruct the life and world of Martin Luther. The volume also contextualizes the scholarship and reception of Luther in the popular mind.

Part I. Life and Education: 1. Luther: a life of successful struggle Adam L. Wirrig
2. Luther's family and home life Sabine Hiebsch
3. Education in early sixteenth-century Europe Christopher Carlsmith
4. Monastic life and monastic theology in early modern Germany Tarald Rasmussen
5. The University of Wittenberg Jonathan Mumme
Part II. Religious and Intellectual Context: 6. Western Christianity in 1500 Kenneth J. Woo
7. Late medieval piety: St Anne, Martin Luther, and the Salvific journey Beth Allison Barr
8. Late medieval theology Gordon Jensen
9. Calls for reform before Martin Luther Euan Cameron
10. Penance and indulgences Ronald K. Rittgers
11. Luther and the papacy Ralph Keen
12. Northern humanism and its impact David H. Price
13. Martin Luther and the printing press Allyson F. Creasman
Part III. Social and Cultural Context: 14. The Holy Roman Empire David Luebke
15. The Imperial Diet in the 1520s Christopher W. Close
16. The German Peasants' War Michael G. Baylor
17. Origins of the Schmalkaldic League W. Bradford Smith
18. The Turks Gregory J. Miller
19. Women and gender Amy E. Leonard
20. Apocalypticism in the sixteenth century Lawrence P. Buck
21. Jews and Judaism Stephen G. Burnett
22. Luther's artists Larry Silver
23. Persecution, martyrdom, and flight in Luther's Europe Timothy J. Orr
Part IV. People: 24. Martin Luther's magisterial defenders David M. Whitford
25. Luther's Catholic opponents Michael Tavuzzi
26. Charles V Violet Soen
27. Andreas Bodenstein von Karlstadt Martin Kessler
28. The Wittenberg circle Michael J. Lohrmann
29. Huldrych Zwingli Rebecca A. Giselbrecht
Part V. Themes in Luther's Thoughts: 30. The 'Solas' of the Reformation Anna Vind
31. Law and gospel Kirsi Stjerna
32. Luther's theology of the cross Steven D. Paulson
33. Erasmus: humanist and theologian Greta Grace Kroeker
34. Two kingdoms/political theology Jarrett A. Carty
35. Implementing reform Volker Leppin
Part VI. Works: 36. Luther's treatises and polemics Hans Wiersma
37. Martin Luther's university lectures and biblical commentaries Mickey L. Mattox
38. Luther's sermons, catechisms, and worship aids Timothy H. Maschke
39. Luther´s table talk Ingo Klitzsch
40. The Luther Bible Arnoud Visser
41. German and Latin editions of Luther's works Vincent Evener
42. English editions of Martin Luther's works Alyssa Lehr Evans
Part VII. Reception: 43. The Anabaptists Brian C. Brewer
44. John Calvin and Calvinism R. Ward Holder
45. The English Reformation Susan Wabuda
46. Discord and concord: from the Wittenberg Reformation to Lutheranism Matthias Pohlig
47. Luther as a German hero John A. Maxfield.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], Protestantism & Protestant Churches [HRCC9], Church history [HRCC2], Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH]