Confessional Lutheran theology, hagiography, philosophy, music, culture, sports, education,
and whatever else is on the fevered mind of Orycteropus Afer
17 August 2006
+ Johann Gerhard, Theologian +
17 August AD 1637
Born 17 October 1582, Johann Gerhard, a Lutheran theologian in the tradition of Luther (1483–1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522–86), was the most influential 17th Century dogmaticians. Many still consider his Loci Theologici in 23 large volumes to be one of the most definitive statements of Lutheran orthodoxy. Born in Quedlinburg, Germany, Gerhard was stricken with a life-threatening illness at age 15.
Following this experience, coupled with with guidance from his pastor, Johann Arndt, Gerhard experienced a turning point: He devoted the rest of his life to theology, serving many years as the Superintendent of Heldberg and, later, of the Duchy of Coburg. Eventually he become a professor at the University of Jena. With a sharp, critically trained mind, Gerhard also possessed deep evangelical piety and love for Jesus.
He wrote exegetical and theological works, devotional literature, history, and polemics. Many of his sermons remain in publication, still exercising wide influence upon confessional Lutheran thought. Since its writing and subsequent translation, his Sacred Meditations (see this online translation by Wade R. Johnston in PDF) probably outsold almost every book in the Western world except the Bible and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.
For more detailed information, see the Studium Excitare, Wikipedia, and the Christian Cyclopedia.
Partial List of Works
† Exegesis: Commentarius in harmoniam historiae evangelicae de passione Christi (A comentary harmonizing the Gospel accounts of Christ's Passion, 1617)
† Exegesis: Comment, super priorem D. Petri epistotam (1641)
† Exegesis: Commentaries on Genesis (1637) and Deuteronomy (1658)
† Theology: Confessio Catholice (Universal Confession, 1633-1637), a defense of the evangelical and catholic nature of the Augsburg Confession
† Theology: Loci communes theologici (1610-1622)
† Devotional: Meditationes sacrae (Sacred Meditations, 1606)
Suggested Lection
Psalm 46
Isaiah 55:6-11
Romans 10:5-17
John 15:1-11
Collect
O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ's Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word.
Technorati Tags: Johann Gerhard | Martin Luther | Martin Chemnitz | Johann Arndt | Lutheran | orthodoxy | theology | Loci Theologici | Sacred Meditations | Meditationes sacrae ¶ 23:23 |
Born 17 October 1582, Johann Gerhard, a Lutheran theologian in the tradition of Luther (1483–1546) and Martin Chemnitz (1522–86), was the most influential 17th Century dogmaticians. Many still consider his Loci Theologici in 23 large volumes to be one of the most definitive statements of Lutheran orthodoxy. Born in Quedlinburg, Germany, Gerhard was stricken with a life-threatening illness at age 15.Following this experience, coupled with with guidance from his pastor, Johann Arndt, Gerhard experienced a turning point: He devoted the rest of his life to theology, serving many years as the Superintendent of Heldberg and, later, of the Duchy of Coburg. Eventually he become a professor at the University of Jena. With a sharp, critically trained mind, Gerhard also possessed deep evangelical piety and love for Jesus.
He wrote exegetical and theological works, devotional literature, history, and polemics. Many of his sermons remain in publication, still exercising wide influence upon confessional Lutheran thought. Since its writing and subsequent translation, his Sacred Meditations (see this online translation by Wade R. Johnston in PDF) probably outsold almost every book in the Western world except the Bible and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis.
For more detailed information, see the Studium Excitare, Wikipedia, and the Christian Cyclopedia.
Partial List of Works
† Exegesis: Commentarius in harmoniam historiae evangelicae de passione Christi (A comentary harmonizing the Gospel accounts of Christ's Passion, 1617)
† Exegesis: Comment, super priorem D. Petri epistotam (1641)
† Exegesis: Commentaries on Genesis (1637) and Deuteronomy (1658)
† Theology: Confessio Catholice (Universal Confession, 1633-1637), a defense of the evangelical and catholic nature of the Augsburg Confession
† Theology: Loci communes theologici (1610-1622)
† Devotional: Meditationes sacrae (Sacred Meditations, 1606)
Suggested Lection
Psalm 46
Isaiah 55:6-11
Romans 10:5-17
John 15:1-11
Collect
O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ's Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word.
Technorati Tags: Johann Gerhard | Martin Luther | Martin Chemnitz | Johann Arndt | Lutheran | orthodoxy | theology | Loci Theologici | Sacred Meditations | Meditationes sacrae ¶ 23:23 |
