Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism

A helpful and accessible guide to Lutheranism's history and central tenents, with numerous photos and illustrations.

Small wonder that many are confused about Lutheranism's historical origins, doctrinal affirmation, and ethical directives. Even Lutherans themselves—maintains, Eric Gritsch, a leading authority on the Lutheran tradition—are not clear about their identity. Some Lutheran consider themselves heirs to a reform movement, others see themselves as members of a denomination or ecclesial institution, and still others are confounded by the tension and miss the tradition's thrust.

Fortress Introduction to Lutheranism offers in Part One a concise, well-written overview of this group's history from The Book of Concord to the present and in Part Two a distillation of its teachings as challenges to the reader.

List of Illustrations
Preface

Part One: Legacy

Chapter 1 The Luther Event
Breakthrough and Breakaway
Movement and Institution
A Man for Few Seasons

Chapter 2 The Aborted Reformation
Away from Rome
Orthodoxy and Pietism
The Impact of Enlightenment Philosophy

Chapter 3 Old World Network
Contexts
Theologies
Church, State, and Witness

Chapter 4 New World Immigrants
Sailing to North America
The Problem of Assimilation
Manifold Destiny and Lutheran Identity

Chapter 5 Missionary Connections
Forays by Church and State
Evangelism in the Third World
Ways of Cooperation

Chapter 6 World Lutheranism
Joining the Quest for Unity
encounter with Tyranny
The Lutheran World Federation

Part Two: Challenge

Chapter 7 Proper God-talk
A Christ-centered mind
Mandate and Promise
Justified Freedom

Chapter 8 Life in the Meantime
Two Realms
Back to the Future
Servanthood and Serpenthood

Chapter 9 Formation for Mission
Worship
Education
Ethics

Chapter 10 The Gift of Unity
Scripture and Tradition
Word and Sacrament
Authority and Adiaphora

Postscript

Appendix A: An Introduction to the Lutheran Confessions

Appendix B: A Guide to Further Reading

Acknowledgments