Thursday, March 12, 2009

Quotes from Luther's Theology of the Cross by Alister McGrath

“For Luther, the reformation of morals and the renewal of spirituality, although of importance in themselves, were of secondary significance in relation to the reformation of Christian doctrine.” (19)

“In comparison with this [the doctrine of justification], matters such as the authority of the pope, the nature of purgatory and the propriety of indulgences were seen by Luther as being quite insignificant and irrelevant.” (21)

“Luther here reproduces an authentically Augustinian theme which had assumed increasing importance in later medieval theology - the conviction that justification involves a direct personal encounter between the Holy Spirit and man.” (85)

“The origins in the theology of the cross lie in Luther’s initial difficulty in seeing how the idea of a righteous God could conceivably be good news for sinful man.” (92)

“This element of Luther’s thought would be developed by Melanchthon into a doctrine of forensic justification, which would become normative for Protestant understandings of justification.” (134)

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