The Theology of Martin Luther

(This is a brief review of the Fortress Press edition of 1966; softcover).The author, Paul Althaus, was a significant figure in the 20th century history of German Lutheranism, partly due to his dramatic life entailing his own compromises with and eventual repudiation of the Third Reich.I was expecting great things from his, “The Theology of Martin Luther,” yet, with some exceptions, the main corpus of the book is a platitudinous trek through Prof. Althaus’ channeling of Luther rather than much of an encounter with Luther himself. It is crammed with descriptions of what Althaus says Luther says. The substance of this book, its Biblical citations and direct quotes from Luther’s writings, are largely to be found inconveniently and exasperatingly in the tiny footnotes. Few scholars today would compose their text in such a fashion.I’m not dismissing this book. I gave it three stars. It is a worthwhile addition to a researcher’s library, but whereas I imagined it would be a centerpiece of studies in Luther’s theology, having it in my possession I now realize it is only a secondary work. In my opinion, in English, the place of honor continues to be occupied by Bernhard Lohse’s “Martin Luther’s Theology: Its Historical and Systematic Development,” (Fortress Press, 1999). In Prof. Lohse's organization of facts and clarity of presentation his book is everything the Althaus volume is not.The question then arises, was Althaus the victim of his English translator, or are the faults I’ve mentioned present in his original German text? I suspect the latter is the case.

This reprint comes in 8 1/2 by 11. The large print reads easy. Althaus provides a good review of the essential elements of Luther's theology that are unique to him, while also pointing out to the reader that not all parts of Luther's understanding of the world are applicable to today's world. The language is non-inclusive. With these limitations, still a good resource for anyone who is searching for Luther's theological insights.

used the hardboard copy in seminary. It is a good book for being introduced to Luthers theology.

Althaus presents the best summary of Luther's theology that I have come across. He is able to easily explain in a couple of pages what other authors have (needlessly) dedicated entire books to. He uses many direct quotes in order to remain unbiased.

Very well written. Organized. And shows the progression of his theology.Highly recommend it for any student of theology, lay or ordained.

I bought this book in the mid-1970's and have read it or parts of it many times. I keep coming back to it again and again, for Luther's theology of the cross is simply Paul's "the word of the cross" (1 Cor. 1:18-23; etc.). I am convinced that few, if any, have understood Paul's gospel of God, in all its depth, better than Martin Luther. Luther, unlike Paul, had the time to write much in terms of explaining the gospel and its corrollary, faith in Christ. Althaus was a gifted theologian, and he understood Luther more than most Lutheran theologians have understood him. Thus, in this work, Althaus, using his own words and also a great amount of quotations (or paraphrases) from Luther himself (many of which cannot be found in the limited works in English by Luther) reveal the depth of Luther's understanding of the law in contrast to the gospel, and of Christology, etc., and what it really means to live by faith in Jesus Christ. The truth in these chapters is the truth of God in utter contrast to the so-called "new perpsective on Paul" which erroneously tones down the law to mere boundary markers (e.g., circumcision, but this is self-justification, making the law seem keep-able); and wrongly separates faith in Christ from faith in Christ for justification (as our righteousness) before God. Luther's theology reveals the error of such teaching; whereas in Paul (and in all of Scripture) it is one, undivided law. Throughout the book, Althaus uses a wealth of quotes from Luther himself, and is very discerning in the ones he uses: i.e., he uses some of the very best. He aimed to get Luther's thinking across to all readers, not just theologians. He accomplished his goal. Luther, later in life, admitted that he wrote too much; and that much of it should not be published. I agree, mainly because his best writings, like the mature Luther's Lectures on Galatians in 1535, have simply become ignored due to the massiveness of his writings (and to the primacy in Lutheranism of the Lutheran Confessions). Along with the 1535 Galatians (Luther's Works, Volumes 26 and 27), I would most strongly recommend this book by Paul Althaus -- The Theology of Martin Luther. The more we are taught by the Scriptures (by the Spirit through the Scriptures), i.e., the more Christ is formed in us, the more we realize that the flesh is radically self-trusting, and that such self-trust is idolatry. I have been a Christian for 40 years, and it never ceases to amaze me that most Christians have not known or discovered the teacher that God has given the church in Martin Luther -- not only to recover the gospel, but also to teach the church. In this regard I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ENOUGH; especially chapters 3 (on The Theology of the Cross), 7 (on Faith) and 18 (on Righteousness in Faith). In summary, Althaus has done the Christian church an inestimable service in writing "The Theology of Martin Luther" , for here a person can get an overall, systematic, and yet an in-depth understanding of Luther's gospel-centered (God in Christ-centered) theology, without having to read or purchase his voluminous works in German (WA) or the (limited) American edition (LW). There are many direct and awesome quotes from Luther himself which are in the Weimar (German) Edition, (esp. from Vol 37 of Weimar) which have not else where been translated into English, that are here in this book. This book far surpasses most other books on Christian theology and life, because they have such depth of understanding by a God-gifted teacher on the true interpretation of Holy Scripture 9in light of CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND RISEN). And don't forget to read the footnotes, in which Luther is quoted so often.