Luther`s Theology

Luther’s Theology
Pekka Kärkkäinen
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Lectures on Luthers Theology
2011
http://blogs.helsinki.fi/luther-studies/luthers-theology-2011/
Tuesdays from 12.15-13.45 at Aleksanterinkatu 7, 3rd floor,
seminaarihuone 3 (sh 3)
8th February no lecture
Themes:
1. Introduction
2. The Human Being
3. Christ
4. Trinity
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
5. Baptism
6. Eucharist
7. Faith
8. Theology of the Cross
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
9. The Virgin Mary
10. Music
11. Finnish Luther Studies
12. Exam
- 3 questions on the lectures, choose 2 to answer
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Luther’s Life and Theology
Biographies
Roland Bainton, Here I Stand
Martin E. Marty, Martin Luther (Penguin Lives Series)
James M. Kittelson, Luther the Reformer
Internet resources
http://www.luther2017.de/eng/index.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_luther
Bernhard Lohse, Martin Luther’s Theology.
Engaging Luther, ed. Olli-Pekka Vainio (Cascade 2010)
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Young Luther: Humanist and
Scholastic
Humanism in Erfurt
ancient poets, elegant Latin
ad fontes, back to the sources
Luther as humanist
quotations of classical authors
purity of theology: Bible, church fathers (Augustine)
Collegium Maius, Erfurt
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Young Luther and Medieval
Theology
Peter Lombard (1100-60) and Sentences
Luther’s marginal notes on Lombard (1509-11)
‒ P. Kärkkäinen, ”Martin Luther” in Medieval Commentaries on the
Sentences of Peter Lombard, vol. 2, ed. Philipp W. Rosemann.
Brill 2009.
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
First Psalm lectures (Dictata in psalterium, 1513-15)
‒ Theo Bell: Divus Bernardus
John Tauler (c. 1300-1361), Theologia Germanica
Lectures on Tauler
Editions of Theologia Germanica
via moderna, Augustinianism (Frömmigkeitstheologie)
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Criticism of Scholasticism
1517
95 theses against
indulgences
True repentance
Against scholastic theology
1518
Heidelberg disputation
Theology of cross
Criticism of Aristotelianism
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Starting Points
Problem: impossibility of perfect love towards God
Corruption of natural abilities through original sin
Human love is seeking its own good
Corruption of scholastic theology
Reason: Aristotle, especially ethics and natural
philosophy
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Attack on Scholastics
Criticism in the lectures on Romans and Galatians
Questio de viribus et voluntate hominis sine gratia disputata
(25th Sept 1516)
95 Theses against Indulgences, (end of October 1517)
Disputation Against Scholastic Theology (5th September
1517)
Target: via moderna (Gabriel Biel)
Aristotle’s philosophy behind the scholastic theology
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Contents of Criticism
Human being (without the grace) does not know true
goodness.
It is not possible to fulfil the divine law in any manner
(without the grace)
Human will is not free by nature (without the grace),
but captive to do evil
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Luther’s View
”Man is by nature unable to want God to be God. Indeed, he
himself wants to be God.”
Divine grace is basis of human love to God
Not human self-love
No preparation for grace
Grace is the basis of good deeds
Spiritual fulfillment of the law
Love of God contradicts human self-love
Love of God = self-giving love
Human love = seeking its own
Conformation to divine will (divine law)
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
1520 Papal bull Exsurge
Domini: break with Rome
1521 Luther’s
excommunication; Diet of
Worms: Luther hides in
Wartburg Castle
1522 The German New
Testament
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
1524-25 Peasants’ revolt
1525 Marriage with
Katharina von Bora
1529
Colloqui of Marburg: break
with Zwingli
Small and Large
Catechisms
1534 First edition of the
German Bible
1546 Luther dies in
Eisleben
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Luther Research
Neo-Kantian school
Albrecht Ritschl etc.: nature and person
The Weimar Edition (Weimarer Ausgabe, WA) 1883National library, Faculty library
http://luther.chadwyck.co.uk/
After the 1st World War: Luther Renaissance
Karl Holl etc.: conscience
After the 2nd World War: personalist Luther-interpretation
Gerhard Ebeling etc.: being in relation
Recent Finnish Luther research
Tuomo Mannermaa etc.: Christ present in faith
Faculty of Theology / Pekka Kärkkäinen / Luther’s Theology 2011
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto