The Trinity and Martin Luther

Description

Martin Luther was classically orthodox.Scholars often portray Luther as a heroic revolutionary, totally unlike his peers and forebearsÑas if he alone inaugurated modernity. But is this accurate? Is this even fair? At times this revolutionary model of Luther has come to some shocking conclusions, particularly concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. Some have called Luther modalist or tritheistÑsomehow theologically heterodox.In The Trinity and Martin Luther Christine Helmer uncovers LutherÕs trinitarian theology. The Trinity is the central doctrine of the Christian faith. ItÕs not enough for dusty, ivory tower academics to know and understand it. Common people need the Trinity, too. Doctrine matters.Martin Luther knew this. But how did he communicate the doctrine of the Trinity to lay and learned listeners? And how does his trinitarian teaching relate to the medieval Christian theological and philosophical tradition?Helmer upends stereotypes of LutherÕs doctrine of the Trinity.This definitive work has been updated with a new foreword and with fresh translations of LutherÕs Latin and German texts.