Martin Luther - which works do I want?

Hi SineNomine, 

I think Mark's suggestion is an excellent one. I suspect for your purposes that primary works (without editorial comments coming from an evangelical protestant perspective) may be more useful. Still, the volume Mark recommends has a really good mix of theological, polemical, pastoral and exegetical material. 

In any case, here are the primary works of Luther in these 2 volumes. Each one has a separate editorial introduction. 

Volume 1.

Disputation On Indulgences (1517)

Treatise On Baptism (1519)

Discussion Of Confession (1520)

The Fourteen Of Consolation (1520)

Treatise On Good Works (1520)

Treatise On The New Testament (1520)

The Papacy At Rome (1520)

Volume 2.

A Treatise Concerning The Blessed Sacrament And Concerning The Brotherhoods (1519).

A Treatise Concerning The Ban (1520).

An Open Letter To The Christian Nobility (1520).

The Babylonian Captivity Of The Church (1520).

A Treatise On Christian Liberty (1520).

A Brief Explanation Of The Ten Commandments, The Creed, And The Lord’s Prayer (1520).

The Eight Wittenberg Sermons (1522).

That Doctrines Of Men Are To Be Rejected (1522)

I hope that helps.

Colin. 

I was thinking about getting the Basic Works suggested by Marc Barnes but I have a question. I see "Table Talk" is listed as part of fragments. Does that mean it's only part of the existing work or are fragments all that exist of this work?

Sorry for my ignorance on the subject.

Hi David, 

It is part of the standard volume of Luther's works in English (beginning at p. 428 as can be seen from the title page). 

LW 54 itself has 516 pages and consists of a selection from over 7,000 conversations in the German edition.  

In my opinion, Table Talk can be entertaining but it is not one of the more representative and authoritative parts of Luther's writings available to us. 

Colin. 

I understand. I was mainly interested because I have seen snippets quoted but with no idea as to whether they were quoted in context or unjustly mangled to make him look bad. (That's also why I am interested in the whole basic set. I figure it is better to be informed than to repeat misinformation)

The Book of Concord contains the following by Martin Luther:

• Small Catechism
• Large Catechism
• Smalcald Articles
• and in some editions A brief Admonition to Confession (appendix to Larger Catechism)

Edited by Phillipp Melanchthon, close ally of Luther and standard source for early Lutheran thought:

• Augsburg Confession
• Apology of the Augsburg Confession
• Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope

Other documents:

• 3 Ecumenical Creeds
• Formula of Concord

It was collected to quell the religious quarrels within the Lutheran movement following Luther's death with the intent of preserving pure Lutheranism.

Current scholarship credits Luther with the "Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope". This does not appear to be a consensus view among all Reformation scholars.

Budget permitting, Luther's Works is the most extensive set of Luther's writings available in Logos. The other Luther collections are subsets, and likely from different translators.

As noted upthread, when Luther wrote something is important to consider. His basic theology did not change, but the tone and emphasis of his topics did.

Luther himself suggested his catechism and the commentary on Genesis.  Outside of the book of Concord his commentary on Galatians is the only required Luther I remember from seminary.  He is most loved for his Hymns and sermons.  Yet you get the most intimate look at him in his letters.

Given your background, I suspect you'd find his little commentary on the Magnificat interesting.

Yes, it is good - and would show some important continuity with Rome. But I would also recommend the Apology to the Augsburg Confession (by Melanchthon and in the Book of Concord) or the new addition of Freedom of a Christian to a Roman Catholic who is interested in listening to Lutherans seriously. I suspect you will see them as deeply influenced by theology that has gone before - even while they do criticize some formulations as well.

Unfortunately Luther learned his theology from Biel - and so we Lutherans and Roman Catholics can easily talk past each other...

I knew that we have been talking past each other since the Reformation, and I knew that Luther was trained in the tradition of Biel, but I had never put the two together before. Thanks for the insight!

Some of that understanding is from a ex-Lutheran who has "swam the Tiber". I think it was Wilken, but not sure. Also from David Steinmetz who pointed out the drastically different ways St. Thomas Aquinas has been read over history, and his argument that Luther never really experienced the way Aquinas has been received by the Roman Church. Add in the development that both sides have had since then, and it is easy to miss each other's point. I know when I hear criticisms of Jansenism I often cringe - and yet, as a Lutheran I have to admit that that I would also want to criticize a Jansenistic separating of Grace from the sacraments...

Speaking of David Steinmetz, it would be nice to have his Luther in Context in Logos.