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This volume of Gerhard’s comprehensive exegetical-systematic theology presents two commonplaces.
On the Gospel defines the Gospel carefully as the proclamation of God’s promises and forgiveness of sins for the sake of Jesus Christ. Since confusions continually arise on the relationship of the Gospel to the text of the New Testament, Old Testament, and the Law of God, Gerhard carefully distinguishes Law from Gospel and explains how the Gospel is found in both testaments. Against the Roman Catholic idea of “supererogation,” Gerhard explains that Christ revealed the same moral Law as had been given in the Old Testament, but did not add to new laws that are supposedly optional for Christians.
On Repentance deals with salutary turning-away from sins, which Lutherans commonly define as including contrition (grief over sins committed) and faith in the promise of forgiveness for Christ’s sake. Much of this commonplace takes apart the Roman Catholic sacrament of Penance, defined as consisting of contrition, confession, and satisfaction, as well as the concept of indulgences that is bound up with this. At the same time, Gerhard supports and defends private, individual confession and absolution of Christians before their pastors as a practice fully in accord with Holy Scripture.
About the Series
The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of church father Johann Gerhard’s monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology.
Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard’s accessible style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and professional church workers.
Each embossed hardback volume includes:
-the translation of Gerhard’s Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625)
-a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms
-a name index
-a Scripture index
-a carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which Gerhard quotes.
