The Pastoral Luther

Essays on Martin Luther’s Practical Theology

Edited by

Timothy J. Wengert

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K.

© 2009 William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

All rights reserved

Published 2009 by

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /

P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The pastoral Luther: essays on Martin Luther’s practical theology / edited by Timothy J. Wengert.

p. cm.—(Lutheran quarterly books)

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-8028-6351-5 (pbk.: alk. paper)

1. Luther, Martin, 1483–1546. 2. Theology, Practical—History—16th century. 3. Pastoral theology—Lutheran Church—History—16th century. I. Wengert, Timothy J.

BR333.5.P65P37 2009

253.092—dc22

2008046907

www.eerdmans.com

LUTHERAN QUARTERLY BOOKS

Editor

Paul Rorem, Princeton Theological Seminary

Associate Editors

Timothy J. Wengert, The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia Steven Paulson, Luther Seminary, St. Paul Mark C. Mattes, Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa

Lutheran Quarterly Books will advance the same aims as Lutheran Quarterly itself, aims repeated by Theodore G. Tappert when he was editor fifty years ago and renewed by Oliver K. Olson when he revived the publication in 1987. The original four aims continue to grace the front matter and to guide the contents of every issue, and can now also indicate the goals of Lutheran Quarterly Books: “to provide a forum (1) for the discussion of Christian faith and life on the basis of the Lutheran confession; (2) for the application of the principles of the Lutheran church to the changing problems of religion and society; (3) for the fostering of world Lutheranism; and (4) for the promotion of understanding between Lutherans and other Christians.”

For further information, see www.lutheranquarterly.com.

The symbol and motto of Lutheran Quarterly, VDMA for Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum (1 Peter 1:25), was adopted as a motto by Luther’s sovereign, Frederick the Wise, and his successors. The original “Protestant” princes walking out of the imperial Diet of Speyer in 1529, unruly peasants following Thomas Müntzer, and from 1531 to 1547 the coins, medals, flags, and guns of the Smalcaldic League all bore the most famous Reformation slogan, the first Evangelical confession: The Word of the Lord remains forever.

Contents

Abbreviations

Contributors

Introducing the Pastoral Luther

Timothy J. Wengert

I. THE THEOLOGICAL HEART OF THE PASTOR

1. Luther on the Theology of the Cross

Robert Kolb

II. PREACHING THE LIVING WORD

2. Communication and the Transgression of Language in Martin Luther

Vítor Westhelle

3. Luther on Humor

Eric W. Gritsch

4. Luther on Preaching as God Speaking

H. S. Wilson

III. THE TEACHING MINISTRY

5. Luther on Education

Robert Rosin

6. Martin Luther and the Ten Commandments in the Large Catechism

Timothy J. Wengert

7. Luther on the Creed...