Luther

on Vocation

GUSTAF WINGREN

Translated by CARL C. RASMUSSEN

Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 West 8th Avenue, Suite 3

Eugene, Oregon 97401

Luther on Vocation

By Wingren, Gustaf

Copyright © 1957 by Wingren, Gustaf

ISBN: 1-59244-561-6

Publication date 2/19/2004

Previously published by Muhlenberg Press, 1957

Contents

Introduction

I. Earth and Heaven

1. The Earthly Kingdom

2. The Kingdom of Heaven

3. The Spiritual and Earthly Governments

4. Faith and Love

5. Cross and Desperation

6. Relationship with God, and Vocation

II. God and the Devil

1. The Concept of Governments

2. The Concept of Freedom

3. The Confusion of the Kingdoms

4. Co-operation

5. Regeneration

III. Man

1. His Situation

2. Vocation—Imitation

3. Prayer

4. God’s Commandment

5. Stündelein

6. Hiddenness and Eschatology

Index

Introduction

The task to which we address ourselves in this investigation of Luther’s doctrine of vocation is purely historical in that its only aim is understanding Martin Luther’s thought on one special point. Our study is not intended to be systematic treatment of basic principles, criticism of contemporary theology, comparison of Lutheran and Romanist thought, or comparative treatment of Luther and his followers. When Luther’s own view has been made clear we shall have completed this undertaking. Having thus defined our task, we make its limits clearer by stating the way we seek to understand Luther’s doctrine of vocation. Our aim is not to trace the progressive unfolding of this view in Luther through successive modifications occasioned by his various experiences and the progress of his reforming efforts. Such an investigation would have to be chronological, beginning with his earliest writings and following through to the old Luther and the Genesis commentary. It is inevitable that this will be touched upon to some degree in our study; but this will not be the regulative aim. Our aim is rather to integrate Luther’s statements about vocation with his basic theology, that is, to present expressions concerning Beruf in the context of his fundamental concepts—law and gospel, the work of Christ, freedom, sin, etc. The correctness of an interpretation of Luther’s doctrine of vocation can be shown only by its clarity and congruity with his total outlook. Our main purpose therefore makes our treatment of the material systematic in that our quest is the total view of a definite historical person, Luther.

Such a systematic procedure in the study of the thought of a historic person rests on the implicit assumption that his basic theological position is itself unified. It is said that this assumption is not completely valid in the case of Luther. The position of the pre-Reformation Luther often makes necessary a chronological treatment of the material and attention to the historical development of his view. For example, our discussion of his 1520 Treatise on Good Works, will be concerned with a certain carry-over from his pre-Reformation ...